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Gr8_Water Systems_unit1_ch3

Terms in this set (16)

Weather
a short-term condition in the atmosphere at a specific place and time
Climate
weather conditions of a specific area averaged over a long period of time,usually 30 years
Heat capacity
a measure of how long it takes a material to heat up or cool down
Convection currents
as air over warm ocean water is heated, the particles become less dense and spread out, thus warm air rises. The cooler, denser air, sinks back down, gets reheated and the cycle continues
Labrador current
a cold ocean current flowing down from the north
Gulf Stream
a warm ocean current flowing up from the south
El Niño
an occurrence in the Pacific in which trade winds decrease, ocean temperatures increase, and which results in extreme weather conditions
La Niña
an occurrence in the Pacific in which trade winds increase, ocean temperatures decrease, and marine life flourishes
Wetlands
lowland areas that are saturated with water for part of or all of the year
Estuaries
an area of wetland that builds up where a river meets the ocean
Pollution
harmful materials released into the environment
Phosphates
naturally occurring substances in the soil which enhance plant growth
pH
a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is
Turbidity
the amount of undissolved solids suspended in the water
Upwelling
the vertical movement of water from the ocean floor, often caused by wind blowing surface water away from shore
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