Term | Definition |
arbitrary | not having a reason; left to discretion |
oceanographer | a scientist who studies the ocean |
abyssal | having to do with the ocean depths |
expanse | a large area seemingly without end |
guyot | an underwater, flat-topped mountain |
trench | a long, narrow canyon or cut |
amplitude | the distance from the crest of a wave to the trough |
crest | the high point of a wave |
trough | the low point of a wave |
wavelength | the distance between any two like points of a wave, such as the distance between two crests |
decline | to go down; to lessen |
thermocline | a layer of water in the ocean where the temperature declines rapidly with depth |
dilute | to thin down by mixing with water |
salinity | the amount of salt in a solution |
atmosphere | a unit of measure based upon the air pressure at sea level |
bathyal | of the zone along the continental slope |
benthos | having to do with the plants and animals that live on the bottom of the ocean |
cartilaginous | having a skeleton made of cartilage |
habitat | the place where a plant or animal lives |
intertidal | having to do with the zone between the high tide mark and the low tide mark |
nekton | animal life of the oceans that are able to swim easily, including fish and whales |
neritic | having to do with the zone between low tide and the edge of the continental shelf |
plankton | the tiny plants and animals that float on the surface of the ocean and provide food for many marine animals |
maneuverable | able to move around easily for positioning |
sophisticated | highly complex |
submersible | a vessel that may be used underwater |
conjure | to bring to mind; to recall |
disrupt | to break up |
humidity | the amount of moisture in the air |
marine | having to do with the ocean |
moderate | to lessen the effects of |
proximity | the state of being near |
conception | an idea |
cyclonic | rotating; moving in a circle |
dissipate | to scatter or disperse |
precaution | care taken beforehand to assure safety |
prevailing | care taken beforehand to assure safety |
saturated | holding all the moisture that can be held |
scenario | the events that make up the whole picture or scene |
desalination | the removal of salt from a solution |
distillation | the process of heating, then cooling a liquid and collecting the condensation to effect purification |
hydrologic | having to do with water |