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Oceanography
Oceanography, also called marine science, is the study of oceans. It includes the study of physical oceanography, marine chemistry, marine geology, and marine biology. Areas covered in oceanography are the shape, depth, and distribution of oceans, and also their composition, life forms, ecology, and water currents, as well as their legal status. If you would like to know more or share your knowledge about oceanography, ask and answer questions here! Includes questions related to the study of Earth's oceans and seas.
1,839 Questions
Why is the surface zone warmer than the thermocline?
The surface zone is warmer than the thermocline because it is directly exposed to sunlight, which heats up the top layer of the water. In contrast, the thermocline is a transition layer where temperature decreases rapidly with depth, creating a barrier to heat transfer from the surface to deeper waters.
What is thermocline circulation?
Thermocline circulation refers to the vertical movement of water in the ocean based on differences in temperature. Warmer, less dense water sits on top of cooler, denser water, creating a boundary called the thermocline. This circulation plays a critical role in distributing heat and nutrients throughout the ocean.
Currents flowing on the western side of ocean basins are intensified when compared with the currents flowing on the eastern side of ocean basins. Intensified currents are those that are narrow, extend to great depth and are fast. The largest and most prominent of such currents is the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic Ocean, but similar currents also flow in the North Pacific Ocean (the Kuroshio Current), the South Atlantic Ocean (the Brazil Current), the Indian Ocean (the Agulhas Current) and the South Pacific (the East Australian Current). The volume transport of the largest of these currents - the Gulf Stream - is about 55 million cubic meters per sec (or 55 sverdrups [sv] ). The reasons for the westward intensification are complex, but can be explained if we balance the three vorticities (induced rotational factors that change the direction of the flow of water) on each side of the basin. Those vorticities and their direction of rotation are:
1) Wind Stress - Trade Winds and Prevailing Westerlies create a clockwise (CW) vorticity that is equal on both sides of the basin.
2) Frictional - The eastern & western boundaries of the basin both induce a weak counter-clockwise (CCW) frictional vorticity (set up as a resistance to the flow of water) that is also equal on both sides of the basin.
3) Coriolis effect (CE) - The Coriolis effect, because it increases with latitude, creates a different vorticity on the two sides of the basin. On the western side, the northward flowing current is subject to an increasing CE deflection, which induces a CW vorticity, while on the eastern side, the southward flowing current is subject to a decreasing CE deflection, which induces a CCW vorticity. Note, therefore, that the CE rotational directions are opposite on the two sides of the basin.
The fact that the vorticity due to CE is opposite on the two sides of the basin makes balancing the three vorticities difficult, but it can be shown that the only way to achieve this balance is to intensify the current in the western side of the ocean basin (i.e., a Westward Intensification of the current).
This imbalance of CE results in a stronger eastward flow of water at the top of the subtropical gyre and a broad equatorward flow over most of the eastern side of the ocean basin.
This eastern boundary flow is consistent with observations in the North Atlantic, where the Canary Current off Africa is broad, slow and shallow, just the opposite of the characteristics of the Gulf Stream, which is very narrow, swift, and extends very deep.
Do the Virgin Islands have high tides or low tides?
The Virgin Islands experience both high and low tides due to the influence of the moon's gravitational pull. Tides in the region are typically moderate, with variations in amplitude depending on the specific location within the Virgin Islands.
Does NOAA primarily use to study ENSO?
NOAA primarily uses a variety of tools and methods to study ENSO, including satellite observations, ocean buoys, and climate models. These tools help scientists monitor changes in sea surface temperatures, atmospheric pressure patterns, and the strength of trade winds to better understand and predict ENSO events.
How many tsunamis are there in a year?
On average, there are about 2 tsunamis per year that cause significant damage and loss of life. However, many smaller tsunamis occur annually that go unnoticed because they do not generate significant destruction.
What two salts are found in ocean salt water?
The most important is sodium chloride; other salts are magnesium, potassium, calcium chlorides and of course many minor salts.
What are some famous blizzards?
Some famous blizzards include the Great Blizzard of 1888 in the northeastern United States, the Blizzard of 1978 in the Midwest and Northeast, and the Storm of the Century in 1993 which affected the eastern United States. These blizzards caused significant disruption and damage due to the heavy snowfall and strong winds.
What percent of all water on earth is found in the ocean ocean?
~71% of the earth is covered with water, of that ~97% is salt and ~3% is fresh
(2% of fresh water is frozen, only about 1% is available)
List of plant's seed dispersed by wind?
Wind-dispersed seeds & fruits in different plant families:
Helicopters: A. Box Elder (Acer negundo, Aceraceae); C. Big-Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum, Aceraceae); E: Evergreen Ash (Fraxinus uhdei, Oleaceae); F. Tipu Tree (Tipuana tipu, Fabaceae).
Flutterer/Spinners: B. Empress Tree (Paulownia tomentosa, Scrophulariaceae); D. Tree Of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima, Simaroubaceae); G. Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia, Bignoniaceae).
What term do oceanographers use to describe the amount of dissolved salts in ocean water?
The total amount of dissolved salts in ocean water is referred to as "Salinity". :)
Where a freshwater river drains into an ocean, the fresh water may mix with the salt water ... this is called brackish water.
Water near the poles would most likely be stored as?
Ice or snow, due to the colder temperatures in polar regions. This frozen water can be found in glaciers, ice caps, and icebergs.
Where is 2 of earth's fresh water found?
mainly from the arctic and antarctica. As they melt the fresh water goes in the ocean and rises water levels in the sea.Other fresh water sources can be found in lakes rivers and streams which originate in mountains. This is where bottled water is from.
Hope I Helped
Good Luck
: )
Anoynoumous dude
:P mainly from the arctic and antarctica. As they melt the fresh water goes in the ocean and rises water levels in the sea.Other fresh water sources can be found in lakes rivers and streams which originate in mountains. This is where bottled water is from.
Hope I Helped
Good Luck
: )
Anoynoumous dude
:P
Sediment that originates from the continents is called?
Marine sediments are typically terrigenous in nature, which means they came from the land. Sediments that originate from the continents are called terrigenous.
Do humans ever cause tsunamis?
The only way humans could possibly be responsible for a tsunami is if they set off about 20 atomic bombs at the bottom of the sea. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to cause a tsunami like a large earthquake or an underwater volcano erupting. Clearly their is no way to prove this was act wrath of God or Mother-nature it takes hydrogen vapor to produce such tremendous force. Water produces h30 one in a million molecules, now imagine a ripple effect of a million of these little guys. Now don't forget there are satellites orbiting the earth's atmosphere anyone with access to these toys at the right tectonic plate could cause devastating damage.....
What is the coldest ocean in the northern part of the world?
The Arctic Ocean is the coldest ocean in the northern part of the world due to its high latitude location and the presence of extensive sea ice that reflects sunlight, preventing the water from warming up significantly.
The maximum depth of the Caribbean Sea is 25,197 feet.
What is the largest floating object on earth?
An iceberg is the largest floating object we know of. In the case of iceberg B-15, which calved off Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf in 2000, this massive block of ice had a surface are of about 1,200 square miles! It was about the size of Jamaica! Use the link below to learn more and see a satellite photo - not that it really reveals the true size of this berg.
Where on Antarctica is the Bentley Sub glacial Trench?
- Q= What is the Bentley Sub-Glacial trench?A= The Sub-Glacial is about 2,540 meters (8,333 feet) below sea level, the Bentley Sub-glacial Trench is the world's lowest dry elevation. Located in Western Antarctica, it was named for geologist Charles R. Bentley, currently a professor at the University of Wisconsin. Oddly enough, the the trench floor is covered by over 3,000 meters of snow and ice, which actually puts its surface above sea level.
The deep ocean floor and submarine sand reefs are all made up of limestone environment. Limestone is a sedimentary type of rock that can be found in many places. It falls to the ocean floor when tides rise and fall.
What kinds of substances cant be dissolved in water?
Substances that cannot be dissolved in water are typically nonpolar molecules, such as oil, fats, and wax. In general, substances with strong intermolecular forces that are not easily disrupted by water molecules will not dissolve in water. Examples include hydrophobic molecules like hydrocarbons and certain gases like oxygen and nitrogen.
Not considered to be a true ocean?
The oceans include:
1. Pacific Ocean
2. Atlantic Ocean
3. Indian Ocean
4. Southern Ocean
5. Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is sometimes considered a SEA of the Atlantic Ocean
Where do Hydrological hazards happen most?
Hydrological hazards such as floods, landslides, and droughts can occur in various locations around the world. However, they are most common in regions with high rainfall or areas prone to extreme weather events, poor drainage systems, deforestation, urbanization, or proximity to rivers and coastlines. Vulnerable regions include South and Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, Central and South America, and some regions in Europe and North America.
How many seasons of blue water high is there?
There is currently (as of 2009) three series of Blue Water High
