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Oceanography Exam 2
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65
Science
Undergraduate 3
02/28/2008

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Term
Atom
Definition
The smallest component of an element, comprisingneutrons, protons, and electrons
Term
Nucleus  
Definition
the center of the atom consisting of positively charged particles called protons and neutrally charged particles called neutrons
Term
Electrons  
Definition
Negatively charged particles, which orbit the nucleus in discrete electron shells
Term
Electrically stable atoms  
Definition
Have the same number of electrons as protons
Term
Ions
Definition
are atoms with either more or less electrons than protons and are therefore electrically charged
Term
Isotopes
Definition
are atoms containing the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons and there fore have different weights.
Term
Molecules  
Definition
are chemically-combined compounds formed by two or more atoms
Term
Atoms in Liquids
Definition
vibrate more rapidly, move farther apart, and are free to move relative to each other
Term
atoms in gases
Definition
are highly energetic, move far apart, and are largely independent
Term
Evaporation
Definition
the transition from liquid to gas
Term
condensation
Definition
the transition from gas to liquid
Term
what do atoms do when temp increases?
Definition
move farther apart and density decreases because there is less mass (fewer atoms) in the same volume
Term
Water molecules are-
Definition
Asymmetrical in shape. With two hydrogen molecules at one end.
Term
Water reaches maximum density at?
Definition
3.98 Degrees C
Term
hydrogen bonding
Definition
a weak chemical bond that forms between dipolar molecules such as water molecules, and that greatly influences the physical and cheical properties of the substance
Term
Ionic bond
Definition
a chemical bond created by electrical attration of anions and cations
Term
Anion
Definition
a negatively charged ion such as Chloride CL-
Term
Cation
Definition
A positively charged ion, such as K+ potassim
Term
Hydration
Definition
The process of water surrounding an Ion
Term
Solvent
Definition
the material doing the dissolving- and in seawater it is the water
Term
Solute
Definition
The material being dissolved
Term
Salinity
Definition
the total amound of salts dissolved in the water
Term
average salinity of ocean?
Definition
35 0/00 (35 parts per thousand)
Term
what are the 5 elements that make up 99% of the salt Ions in the sea?
Definition
Sodium, chlorine, sulfate, magnesium, calcium and Potassium
Term
What are the 3 major nutrietns in the sea composed of?
Definition
Nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon
Term
What are the 3 Major gases of the sea?
Definition
Nitrogen, oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
Term
What are the 3 noble gases?
Definition
argon, neon and helium
Term
Salinity is equal to 1.8065 X chlorinity
Definition
Term
Salinity in the ocean is in a stead state, why?
Definition
because the amount of salt added to the ocean equals the amount removed
Term
adding salt increasingly lowers the freezing point, Why?
Definition
because salt ions interfere with the formation of hexagonal structure of ice
Term
Density of water increases as salinity...
Definition
increases
Term
Surface temperatre stronly correlates with?
Definition
Latitude- because insolation, the amound of sunlight striking th earth's surface, is directly related to latitude.
Term
Thermocline
Definition
a layer in which water temperature and density change rapidly.
Term
halocline
Definition
a zone in the water column where the vertical change of salinity is relatively sharp
Term
pycnocline
Definition
a zone having a marked change in water density as a function of water depth
Term
Density of Seawater is a function of?
Definition
Temperature, salinity and pressure
Term
Resident time
Definition
the average amount of time that an element remains dissolved ins eawater assuming steady state conditions.
Term
heat capacity
Definition
measure of the quantity of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by 1 degree C
Term
Dipole molecule
Definition
a molecule such as H2O that possesses a positively charged end and a negatively chared end
Term
constant proportion of seawater
Definition
the abundances of the major ions in seawater occur in constant proportion relative to one another
Term
Desalination
Definition
Removal of salt from seawater, usually to make it drinkable
Term
pH
Definition
the negative log of the hydrogen ion activity; a pH value of 7 denotes a neutral solution. lower than 7 is acidic and high is alkaline or basic.
Term
Ekman Transport
Definition
The net flow of water to the right of the wind in the N. Hemisphere and to the Left of the wind in the S. Hemisphere wich arises as a consequence of Coriolis deflection.
Term
Coriolis effect
Definition
an apparent force that arises because of the Earth's spin about its axis. Freely moving objects are deflected to the right of their direction of motion in the N. Hemisphere and o the left of their direction of motion in the S. Hemisphere
Term
Downwelling
Definition
Sinking of Fluid
Term
Upwelling
Definition
the slow, upward transport of water to the surface from depth
Term
Geostrophic Currents
Definition
a current controlled by a balance between a pressure-gradient force and the Coriolis effect
Term
Warm-core rings
Definition
Large eddies that have a core of warm water
Term
Eddy
Definition
the circular or whirling flow of water generally found along the edge of the main current
Term
Divergence
Definition
To move apart from a common source
Term
convergence
Definition
the meeting of two opposing currents of water or air
Term
Gyre
Definition
a large water-circulation system of geostrophic currents rotating clockwise (n. hemisphere) or counter clockwise (s. Hemisphere)
Term
Plunging breaker
Definition
The classic "pipeline" breaker whereby the crest of the wave crls forward and collapses on itself
Term
Spilling Breaker
Definition
A wave that breaks bby having its crest spill down its face as it progresses through the surf zone
Term
Surging breaker
Definition
breakers taht do not break entirely against the shore and are reflected back offshore
Term
surf zone
Definition
the section of the coastal zone between the shoreline and the breaker zone
Term
Tsunami
Definition
Long-period water wave produced by tectonic effects such as earthquakes, volcanism, or slumping; sometimes called a seismic sea wave
Term
Tided
Definition
the periodic rise and fall of the earth's water surface as a consequence of the gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun
Term
Diurnal tide
Definition
occurrence of one high and one low tide dring one lunar day
Term
mixed tide
Definition
a tide with two unequal high waters and two unequal low waters each day
Term
Neap tide
Definition
the minimum range of tide in an area; it occurs when the moon is in its first and third quarters
Term
Semidiurnal tide
Definition
a tide characterized by two equal high waters and two equal low waters during a lunar day.
Term
spring tide
Definition
the maximum range of tide in an area; occurs twice a month when the moon is new or full.
Term
Rotary Current
Definition
the pattern described by tidal currents in the open ocean whereby the current flow shifts direction by 360 degrees during one complete tidal period
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