Ocean Systems
No description yet. This curated deck is ready for daily study.
Card preview (5)
Outline why the day-night variation in ocean temperature is so much less than that of land. Explain why the ocean minimizes changes in atmospheric temperatures.
Because water has a very high specific heat capacity, and requires a relatively high amount of energy input to heat a gram of water by 1 C. Due this fact, the ocean can absorb lots of thermal energy from the atmosphere and minimize changes in atmospheric temperatures.
Discuss how the density of water varies as water approaches its freezing point.
As temperature approaches 4 C, the thermal motion of the water molecules decreases and density increases. However, as temperature approaches past 4 C (towards 0 C) the packing of the water molecules changes and its density reduces.
Describe features of the euphotic zone in the ocean.
Nearest to the surface (0-200m), enough light for vision and photosynthesis to occur, contains 90% of marine life
Describe features of the disphotic zone in the ocean.
200-1000m, photosynthesis cannot occur but there is still some vision, only animals with special adaptions can live here
Describe features of the aphotic zone in the ocean.
Beyond 1000m deep, only 1% of sunlight reaches here, only extremophiles exist here