Characteristics of Oceans (Leaving Cert Geography): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
15 cards from this deck
% of Earth's surface covered by oceans
% of Earth's surface covered by oceans
71%
% of planet's water in oceans
% of planet's water in oceans
97%
Unit for measuring salinity
Unit for measuring salinity
Parts per thousand (ppt)
Primary salt in seawater
Primary salt in seawater
Sodium chloride
Atlantic Ocean salinity vs Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean salinity vs Pacific Ocean
Atlantic is saltier than Pacific
Thermocline definition
Thermocline definition
Rapid temp decrease with depth; separates warm & cold layers
Primary heat source for oceans
Primary heat source for oceans
Solar radiation
Gulf Stream effect
Gulf Stream effect
Brings warm water from tropics to North Atlantic
Effect of colder water on density
Effect of colder water on density
Colder water is denser
Hydrostatic pressure increase per 10m depth
Hydrostatic pressure increase per 10m depth
1 atmosphere (atm)
Thermohaline circulation
Thermohaline circulation
Global 'conveyor belt' circulation driven by density differences
Sunlight (Epipelagic) zone depth range
Sunlight (Epipelagic) zone depth range
0-200 metres
Twilight (Mesopelagic) zone depth range
Twilight (Mesopelagic) zone depth range
200-1000 metres
Midnight (Bathypelagic) zone depth range
Midnight (Bathypelagic) zone depth range
1000-4000 metres
Number of main ocean zones/layers
Number of main ocean zones/layers
Five