Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Chap 11 Vocab
N/A
33
Science
6th Grade
04/19/2012

Additional Science Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
sonar
Definition
A device that determines the distance of an object underwater by recording echoes of sound waves
Term
continental shelf
Definition
a gently sloping, shallow area of the ocean floor that extends outward from the edge of a continent.
Term
continental slope
Definition
a steep incline of the ocean floor leading down from the edge of the continental shelf
Term
abyssal plain
Definition
a smooth, nearly flat region of the deep ocean floor
Term
seamount
Definition
mountains whose peaks do not break the surface of the ocean water above them
Term
mid ocean ridge
Definition
an undersea mountain chain her new ocean floor is produced
Term
trench
Definition
a deep, steep sided canyon in the ocean floor
Term
intertidal zone
Definition
An area that stretches from the highest high tide line on land to the point on the continental shelf exposed by the lowest tide.
Term
neritic zone
Definition
The area of the ocean that extends from the low tide line out to the edge of the continental shelf
Term
open ocean zone
Definition
The deepest, darkest area of the ocean beyond the edge of the continental shelf.
Term
wave
Definition
Movement of energy throughout a body of water
Term
crest
Definition
the highest part of a wave
Term
trough
Definition
lowest part of a wave
Term
wavelength
Definition
the horizontal distance between the crest of one wave and the crest of the next wave
Term
frequency
Definition
the number of waves that pass a specific point in a given amount of time
Term
wave height
Definition
the vertical distance from the crest of the wave to the trough
Term
breakers
Definition
white capped waves that crash into the shore
Term
tsunami
Definition
a giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor
Term
longshore drift
Definition
The movement of water and sediment down a beach caused by waves coming into a shore at an angle
Term
Rip current
Definition
a rush of water that flows rapidly back to sea through a narrow opening at an sandbar
Term
groin
Definition
A wall made of rocks or concrete that is built outward from a beach to reduce erosion
Term
tide
Definition
the daily rise and fall of earths waters on its coastline
Term
spring tide
Definition
A tide with the greatest difference between high tide and low tide that occurs when the sun and moon are aligned with earth at the new moon and the full moon.
Term
neap tide
Definition
a tide with the least difference between high tide and low tide that occurs when the sun and moon pulls at right angles to each other at the firsthand third quarter moons
Term
potential energy
Definition
the movement of huge amounts of water
Term
salinity
Definition
the total amount of dissolved salts in a water sample
Term
submersible
Definition
an underwater vehicle built of strong materials to resist pressure
Term
current
Definition
a large stream of moving water that flows through the oceans
Term
Coriolis effect
Definition
the effect of earths rotation on the direction of winds and currents
Term
climate
Definition
the average, year after year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds in an area
Term
El NiƱo
Definition
a climate event the occurs every two to seven years in the pacific ocean,during which winds shift and push warm water towards the coast of south america
Term
deep currents
Definition
a type of current that makes the cold water sink and the warm water rise
Term
upwelling
Definition
the movement of cold water upward from the deep ocean that is caused by wind
Supporting users have an ad free experience!