Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Oceanography
WCHS Oceanography Chapter 14
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Oceanography | Is a science that draws on the methods and knowledge of geology, chemistry, physics, and biology to study all aspects of the world ocean. |
| Bathymetry | is the measurement of ocean depths and the charting of the shape or topography of the ocean floor. |
| Sonor | Is an acronym for Sound Navigation and Ranging. An electronic depth-sounding mechanism; Sonor calculates ocean depth by recording the time it takes for an energy pulse to reach the ocean floor and return. |
| Submersible | Is a small underwater craft used for deep-sean research. They a;re used to collect data about areas of the ocean that were previously unreachable by humans. |
| Pacific Ocean | Largest ocean, also the largest single geographic feature on earth. Covers more thatn half of the ocean surface area of earth. Average depth is 3940 meters. |
| Atlantic Ocean | Half the size of the Pacific Ocean. |
| Indian Ocean | Slightly smaller thatn Atlantic Ocean, but same average depth. It is entirely in southern hemisphere. |
| Arctic Ocean | About 7 percent of the size of the Pacific Ocean. Is al little more than one-quarter as deep as the rest of the oceans. |
| Continental margin | the zone of transition between a continent and the adjacent ocean basin floor. |
| Continental shelf | the gently sloping submerged surface extending from the shoreline. It is almost nonexistent along some coastlines. |
| submarine canyon | a seaward extension of a valley that was cut on the continental shelf during a time when sea level was lower; a canyon carved into the outer continental shelp, slope and rise by turbidity currents |
| Turbidity current | a downslpoe movement of dense, sediment-laden water created when sand and mud on the continental shelf and slpoe are dislodged and thrown into suspension |
| Continental rise | the gently sloping surface at eht base of the continental slope. |
| ocean basin floor | area of the deep-ocean floor between the coninental margin and the oceanic ridge. |
| abyssal plains | very level area of the deep-ocean floor, usually lying at the foot of the continental rise. |
| Seamounts | an isolated volcainc peak that rises a t least 1000 meters above the deep-ocean floor. |
| Mid-ocean ridge | Or oceanic ridge; a continuous elevated zone on the floor of all the major ocean basins and varying in width from 1000 to 4000 kilometers; the rifts at the crest of ridges represent divergent plate boundaries |
| seafloor spreading | the process by which plate tectonics produces new oceanic lithosphere at ocean ridges. |
| Continental Slope | the steep gradient that leads to the deep-ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf. |
| Terrigenous sediment | seafloor sediment derived from eroded rocks on land |
| biogenous sediment | seafloor sediment of biological origin, such as shells and skeletons of marine life |
| calcareous ooze | thick, common biogenous sediment produce by dissolving calcium carbonate shells |
| siliceous ooze | biogenous sediment composed of the silica-based shells of single-celled animals and algae |
| hydrogenous sediment | seafloor sediment consisting of minerals that crystalize from seawater; an important exampe is manganese nodules |
| gas hydrates | are compact chemical structures made of water and natural gas, most common is methane. |
| manganese nodule | are hard lumps of manganese and other metals that precipitate around a smaller object. they contain high concentration of manganese, iron, and smaller concentrations of compper, nickel, and cobalt. |
Created by:
dmoudy
Popular Earth Science sets