| Term | Definition |
|---|
| The surface of the earth is __% water and __% land | 71% and 29% |
| In the northern hemisphere, there is more ___ so it is refered to __ hemisphere | land, land |
| The southern hemisphere has more __ so it is called the __ hemisphere | water, water |
| What are four major ocean basins on Earth? | Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic |
| What is the largest and deepest ocean basin? | Pacific ocean |
| Seawater consists of __% by weight, dissolved minerals, mainly salts | 3.5% |
| What is salinity? | Total amount of solid material dissolved in water |
| What units are used to describe salinity? | Parts per thousand |
| What is the first most abundant salt found in seawater? | Sodium Chloride (NaCl) |
| What is the second most abundant salt found in seawater? | Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2) |
| What is the primary source of the salts in ocean water? | Chemical weathering of rocks |
| What is the geologic process of responsible for the presence of water in the oceans? | Outgassing by volcanoes |
| Why don't the oceans get saltier over time? | Material is being removed just as rapidly as added |
| Variations in salinity of the oceans are primarily a consequence of what? | Changes in water content of the solution |
| Where is high salinity found? | Locations with high evaporation rates. Dry subtropic regions |
| Where is low salinity found? | Locations where freshwater is being added to seawater. Near equator |
| The surface salinity of the open ocean normally ranges from __ % to __% | 33-38 per thousands |
| The layering of the oceans are distinguished by ___ and ___. | temperature and salinity |
| In the ocean, high salinity is found where evaporation is ____. | high |
| The layer of rapid temperature change in the ocean is known as the ____________. | thermocline |
| phytoplankton | a microscopic photosynthetic organism that floats near the surface of the ocean |
| kilogram | one thousand grams |
| particulates | tiny solid and liquid particles like dust, smoke, and salt |
| dissolved | to break up solid particles among the molecules of a liquid matter so they become part of the solution |
| organic | pertaining to or derived from animal or vegetable forms of life |
| inorganic | not formed from living things or the remains of living things |
| ions | positively and negatively charged atoms |
| comet | space object made of dust and rock particles mixed with frozen water, methane, and ammonia that forms a bright coma as it approaches the Sun |
| meteorite | stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth's surface |
| salt | A compound made of minerals that, in water, dissolve and form ions (electrolytes) |
| pillow lava | lava that flows out of fissures on the ocean floor and cools rapidly in rounded shapes |
| estuary | the area where freshwater river or stream meets the cean is called a(n) ________., the area where a freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean |
| density | The mass of an object divided by its volume, the density of water is 1 g/ml. |
| outgassing | the release of gas during a volcanic eruption |
| evaporite | the sediment that is left after the evaporation of seawater |
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