Water plays such a huge role in so many of Earth's Processes. We cover what features are found on the ocean floor, how much of Earth's water can be found in different places and different salinity, the Water Cycle, and the causes of waves, currents and tides.
Ocean Floor Topography
1. Continental Shelf - GENTLE sloping area between the shore(beach) to the beginning of the steep slope, the land at the edge of the continent.
2. Continental Slope - Steep sloping area.
3. Continental Rise - End of slope and the bottom.
4. Abyssal Plain - Flat “plain” ocean floor.
5. Mid-Ocean Ridges - Chain of mountains made from the magma coming out and adding to the rocks.
6. Rift Valley - Hills and valleys of the mid-ocean ridge.
7. Sea Mounts - Mountains UNDER the ocean: These can grow to become volcanic mountains.
8. Ocean Trenches - The deep section at the subduction zone.
9. Volcanic Island - An island that was made from volcanoes erupting from the ocean floor.
10. Volcanic Arc - A chain of volcanic islands or mountains when an oceanic plate subducts under another tectonic plate and produces magma.
11. Subduction Zone - When 2 tectonic plates collide and one plate moves or dives underneath the other melting into the mantle.
12. Sonar - Sound Navigation and Ranging: Used to map the oceans.
13. Topography - A map of natural or artificial features of the earth's surface.
14. Guyot - A seamount with a flat top.
2. Continental Slope - Steep sloping area.
3. Continental Rise - End of slope and the bottom.
4. Abyssal Plain - Flat “plain” ocean floor.
5. Mid-Ocean Ridges - Chain of mountains made from the magma coming out and adding to the rocks.
6. Rift Valley - Hills and valleys of the mid-ocean ridge.
7. Sea Mounts - Mountains UNDER the ocean: These can grow to become volcanic mountains.
8. Ocean Trenches - The deep section at the subduction zone.
9. Volcanic Island - An island that was made from volcanoes erupting from the ocean floor.
10. Volcanic Arc - A chain of volcanic islands or mountains when an oceanic plate subducts under another tectonic plate and produces magma.
11. Subduction Zone - When 2 tectonic plates collide and one plate moves or dives underneath the other melting into the mantle.
12. Sonar - Sound Navigation and Ranging: Used to map the oceans.
13. Topography - A map of natural or artificial features of the earth's surface.
14. Guyot - A seamount with a flat top.
Water Distribution
Water Cycle
Waves, Currents and Tides
Waves are the transfer of energy from one place to another. In this case, wind transfers energy to the water.
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Crest - Top of a wave
Trough - Bottom of a wave Wavelength - Measures the horizontal distance from crest to crest or trough to trough. Wave height - Measures the vertical distance from crest to tough. Wave Period - The time for one complete wave to pass. Frequency - The number of waves passing a point in a certain time. |
SURFACE CURRENTS
Main causes of surface currents 1. Wind - Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions. 2. Coriolis Effect - Objects that would normally travel in a straight path curve because the earth spins. 3. Continental Deflection - When currents meet continents, the currents change directions. DEEP CURRENTS Main causes of deep water currents 1. Temperature - Heat rises, cold sinks 2. Density - Measured by the quantity of mass per unit volume (how tightly the molecules are packed together. 3. Salinity - The amount of salt or how salty it is. More salt =More dense. Less salt = less dense. |
Currents are the movement of water in a regular pattern.
Upwelling is the movement of deep, cold and nutrient-rich water to the surface. |
Tides are the periodic rise and fall of the ocean water level. Tides are caused by the gravitational pull between the earth, moon and sun. The moon has a greater affect on tides because it is closer to the earth than the sun.
High tides - Occur on the part of the Earth that is closet to the moon and at the same time on the opposite side of the Earth. Low tides - Occur between the bulges. Spring tides occur twice a month during a new and full moon. Spring tides the earth, moon and sun are in a straight line. Neap tides occur twice a month during 1st quarter and 3rd quarter moon phases. Neap tides the earth, moon and sun are in a right or 90 degree angle. |
Click the button below to access a great video about Tides!