Marine Science Exam Review GRADED A+

from the west and blows toward east. Sea Level - ANSWER Average level of sea surface Gyre - ANSWER Single circular water flow in each ocean basin. Ekman Spiral - ANSWER Moving water transfers energy to layers underneath it, slightly to the right. Western Ocean Boundary Currents - ANSWER Along the Eastern edge of continent; narrow & fast. Eastern Ocean Boundary Currents - ANSWER Along the Western edge of continent, wide & shallow. Countercurrent - ANSWER Flows in direction opposite to adjacent current. Undercurrent - ANSWER Countercurrent that flow beneath adjacent currents. Upwelling - ANSWER Upward vertical current that brings deep water to the surface. Downwelling - ANSWER Downward vertical current that pushes surface water deeper into the ocean. Deep circulation - ANSWER Water motion caused by mixing water of different densities. Deep water masses - ANSWER Form mostly at higher latitudes, made up of Antarctic bottom water and Atlantic Deep Water. Contour currents - ANSWER Deep water flowing around bottom features. Deep water flow pattern - ANSWER Dense water sinks quickly to deep areas. Ocean Conveyor Belt - ANSWER The interconnected flow of currents that redistribute heat. Wave - ANSWER Transfer of energy through matter. Crest - ANSWER Highest point above average water level. Trough - ANSWER Lowest point. Height - ANSWER Vertical distance from trough to crest. Wavelength - ANSWER The horizontal distance between 2 identical points on 2 waves. Period - ANSWER Time for same spot on 2 waves to pass. Frequency - ANSWER Number of waves that pass in one second. Disturbing Forces - ANSWER Create waves. Restoring Forces - ANSWER Resist wave creation Capillary Waves - ANSWER Primary restoring force is surface tension; first to form when wind blows. Gravity Waves - ANSWER Longer waves (take over capillary). Swell - ANSWER Rise & fall of waves with similar wavelength. Wave Train - ANSWER Groups of swells with similar characteristics. Deepwater Wave - ANSWER Water is deeper than half the wavelength. Shallow Water Wave - ANSWER Water is shallower than 1/20 the wavelength. Transitional Wave - ANSWER Depths between 1/2 and 1/20 the wavelength. Wave size influences - ANSWER Wind speed, wind duration, fetch. Fetch - ANSWER Surface area over which wind blows. Rogue Waves - ANSWER Interaction of two closely related wave trains; wave is larger than maximum theoretical size. Internal Waves - ANSWER Occur within different density layers; move slow compared to surface waves. Breaking Waves - ANSWER Waves break when the height increases as the wavelength decreases. Plunging Breaker - ANSWER Create a curl at top. Spilling Breaker - ANSWER Occurs on gently sloping beaches. Surging Breaker - ANSWER Like walls rising out of deep water. Destructive Waves - ANSWER Storm Surge, Seiche, Tsunami Storm Surge - ANSWER From when high winds push water against the shore where it piles up. Seiche - ANSWER Standing wave that forms in large bays and lakes, rocks back and forth. Tsunami - ANSWER Sudden water displacement caused by landslide, iceberg collapsing into sea, volcanic eruption or earthquake. Tides - ANSWER Periodic rise and fall of surface water level. Diurnal - ANSWER One high and one low tide each day. Semidiurnal - ANSWER Two high tides, two low tides each day (roughly equal). Mixed - ANSWER Two unequal high and low tides each day. Flood Current - ANSWER Water moves in, Slack Current - ANSWER Water moves out (ebb tide). Slack Tide - ANSWER Midpoint between high and low tide, little water movement. Tidal Bore - ANSWER Wave produced by an incoming tide. Spring Tide - ANSWER Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned; combined gravitational pull. Neap Tide - ANSWER Weaker tides; raises the low tide, lowers the high tide. Intertidal Zone - ANSWER Areas that experience changes in water level due to tides; many organisms live here. Prokaryotes - ANSWER Simple single celled organisms without a nucleus Eukaryotes - ANSWER Complex cells with a nucleus