Term
| What percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean? |
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Definition
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Term
| What percent of ocean water is dissolved salt? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which is most dense: a) salty or fresh water b) warm or cold water? |
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Definition
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Term
| What drives surface currents, and what drives deep ocean currents? |
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Definition
Surface currents driven by wind.
Deep ocean currents driven by density differences. |
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Term
| What effect do these currents have on the heat distribution of the planet? |
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Definition
| Currents redistribute heat from the equator to the poles. |
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Term
| What causes tides? When do you get the highest and lowest high tides, what are they called, and what astronomical configuration gives rise to each? |
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Definition
Gravitational pull of the sun and moon.
Highest high tides: Spring tide, new moon and full moon.
Lowest high tides: Neap tide, first quarter and third quarter moons. |
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Term
| What effect do tides have on the Earth’s rotation? |
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Definition
| Tides slow the earth's rotation. |
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Term
| Where are the most severe tides in the world? |
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Definition
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Term
| Know what factors affect the size and power of waves. |
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Definition
Wind speed: faster wind = bigger waves
Wind duration: longer wind = bigger waves
Fetch: farther wind blows = bigger waves |
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Term
| On a picture showing a series of waves, be able to label the following features: crest, trough, wavelength (L), wave base. |
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Definition
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Term
| Know what happens to a wave as it approaches a shoreline. |
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Definition
Wave base touches bottom
Wavelength decreases
Wave height increases
Velocity decreases |
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Term
| Understand the concept of wave refraction and its importance to coastal erosion. |
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Definition
| The bending of waves - energy is concentrated on headland. |
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Term
| Know how to determine the direction of the longshore current, and beach drift. |
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Definition
Longshore current: movement of water
Beach drift: movement of sediment |
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Term
| How do humans attempt to control beach erosion? |
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Definition
Add sediment
Sea walls
Groins and Jetties |
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Term
| What is the main cause of damage when a hurricane hits shore? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are two main ways to change sea level? What is a third? |
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Definition
Melt glacial ice
Thermal expansion
Sea floor spreading |
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Term
| Be able to reproduce the hydrologic cycle and the formula for the hydrologic budget of a watershed. |
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Definition
P=R+I+ET
(precipitation = runoff + infiltration + evapotranspiration) |
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