Download Oceanography Overview Notes

Notes: Oceanography Overview
Name: _____________________________ Block: ________
1. _______________% of Earth is covered with oceans
2. Dissolved elements in Ocean Water:
Salinity is a measure of ____________________________ ___________________ in water
Average salinity is 35 grams of salt per 1000 grams of water _______________%
_________________________ & _____________________ are the 2 main elements dissolved in ocean water
3. Sunlight penetration: The blue spectrum of sunlight travels the best in water, therefore the
oceans look ________________. The top layer of the ocean is _________________ due to the penetration of
sunlight. The amount of sunlight that penetrates the ocean affects life in the _______________________.
- Temperature V/S Depth
The _______________________________ is the
layer in the ocean where the
temperature dramatically
___________________________. It separates the
mixed layer at the top from cold deep
layer below.
Remember:
______________________________________help
transfer ______________ in our oceans!
4. Ocean currents
- Ocean currents exist at many levels in the ocean:
surface currents
mid-level currents
& deep sea currents.
Ocean currents help _________________________ the Sun’s
_____________ and important _______________________ for
ocean life.
5. Upwelling
- Upwelling occurs when
_____________________________________________water
rises to replace the warmer, nutrient
depleted water. Because cold water is more
dense, upwelling is initiated by the
_________________. It pushes the warm water out
of the way, so the cold water can rise.
Upwelling is important for the
_______________________________ because it allows
nutrients (___________) to rise for the fish to eat
and grow.

El Nino Conditions cause:
Loss of fish/________________________
Warmer surface water
Increase in _____________________
(warmer water= more evaporation)
6. Coral reefs
Formation of a coral atoll
- Coral reefs are underwater structures of
________________________________________made by corals (living organisms)
Corals are actually animals and the reef is the habitat they build.

Ancient coral reefs may have formed the present day
______________________________

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest
_______________________________________ on Earth

They are _____________________________and sensitive.

They can be destroyed by temperature changes, pollution,
and by being hit/struck.
Coral atolls form from _______________________________________
The enclosed water is called a _____________________.
They are just one type of coral reef (fringing, barrier, patch, ribbon…)
Most Corals only survive in shallow, warm water 79°-81°F.
Coral ___________________________________ occurs when the corals die.
The colors fade away, but the calcium carbonate “shell” remains.