Lesly Santos-Post Lecture #10 Document RCSJ (2)
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Rowan College, Burlington County *
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105
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Geology
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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Post Lecture #10
Intro to Hydrosphere
___71____% of Earth’s surface is covered by water.
___97____% of water on Earth is saltwater (oceans).
___2____% of water on Earth is freshwater frozen in glaciers and ice sheets.
___1____% of water on Earth is freshwater sources (rivers, streams, lakes,
wetlands, groundwater).
The Coast to The Ocean
What vital functions of watersheds?
These are vital functions of watersheds: -supports transportation and interaction of water
sources -supports erosion, deposition, and sedimentation (building of land by deposition) of
sediments from upper watershed to lower watershed -moves vital nutrients (salinity, nitrogen,
phosphorus, organic/biotic nutrients) from land to water sources (ocean)
How do watersheds directly connect to the ocean?
Watersheds connect surifical freshwater sources and land area with ocean saltwater
sources.
Why are estuaries so important?
Estuaries are significant for the hea;th and function of the ocean environment.
Introduction to Oceanography: How big is the ocean?
Name the five major oceans basins.
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Antarctica (Southern), and Arctic.
What percentage of Earth’s surface is covered
by the ocean?
71%
What is the
volume
of ocean water on the Earth’s surface? (Hint: this figure is in billions
km3)
1.37 billion km3
What percentage of the total biosphere does the ocean cover?
71%
Origins of the Ocean
If the Earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago, how old is the ocean?
4 billion years ago
Explain the two distinct ways that the ocean was formed. (How did water end up on
Earth?)
Early volcanism on young Earth (4 billion years ago) emitted immense amounts of
steam, created weather that produced water on Earth surface, rains for thousands of years
Additional water came from outer space, 3.9 billions years ago the Late Heavy
Bombardment occur, hundreds of comets smashed into Earth delivering large amounts of water
How does the ocean get salinity?
Salinity comes from eroded rocks on land transported by watershed, most prevalent ions
in seawater are chloride and sodium making up 90% of all dissolved ions in the ocean to make it
“salty”, salinity in ocean basins change due to evaporation patterns, atmospheric wind cycles,
precipitation influx, ice melt influx, and watershed/estuarine influx.
The average salinity of the ocean is ____35___ppt. The “saltiest” ocean basin is the
_____Atlantic_____Basin. The Atlantic Basin has a salinity level of ____35___ppt.
Why is the Atlantic the saltiest ocean basin?
The saltiest ocean is the Atlantic because the Atlantic basin is the most “trapped” ocean
basin and sees the most evaporation. The Arctic and Antarctic are directly influenced by
melting/freezing ice sheets/icebergs.
Function of Ocean Currents
There is an uneven distribution of solar energy received at Earth Surface. Why does this
matter for Atmospheric Wind Currents (circulation) and Ocean currents (circulation)?
Because the Earth's surface is unevenly heated, there are big differences in air
temperature from the equator to the poles and over different types of terrain. These temperature
differences are what cause convection in the atmospheric and air to circulate over the globe.
Highlight Answer: Ocean currents circulate warm waters from the (
equator/poles) and
circulate cold waters from the (equator/
poles).
Why are ocean currents important globally?
Currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar
radiation reaching Earth's surface.
What does the Coriolis Force and Atmospheric Wind Currents (circulation) have to do
with ocean currents?
The deflection of the atmosphere sets up the complex global wind patterns which drive
surface ocean currents.
How do
surface ocean currents
move and circulate?
Surface ocean currents are mainly driven by wind including Coriolis Effect, Atmospheric
Circulation or Atmospheric Wind Currents and localized wind systems.
Highlight Answer: Warm surface ocean currents are associated with and produce:
A.
Warm, humid, temperate climates on land
B.
Dry, arid climates on land
Highlight Answer: Cold surface ocean currents are associated with:
A.
Warm, humid, temperate climates on lands
B.
Dry, arid climates on land
The Gulf Stream is the major surface ocean current of Eastern North America (East
Coast) and Europe. How does the Gulf Stream influence the climate of North America
and Europe? What does this example tell us about the importance of ocean currents
and ocean circulation?
The Gulf Stream, located in the north Atlantic Ocean, has an important effect on climate,
transportation by sea, and the circulation of nutrients and waste in the ocean. It works together
with the North Atlantic Drift to bring warm air from equatorial regions across Europe. The strong
current of the warm water is keeping the temperatures in Florida warmer in the winter and
cooler in the summer. Ocean currents, including the ocean conveyor belt, play a key role in
determining how the ocean distributes heat energy throughout the planet, thereby regulating
and stabilizing climate patterns.
How do
deep ocean currents
move and circulate?
These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water's density, which is
controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). This process is known as thermohaline
circulation. In the Earth's polar regions ocean water gets very cold, forming sea ice.
What is the scientific name for the Global Ocean Conveyor Belt?
Thermohaline
What are the two factors that drive thermohaline circulation of deep ocean currents
(GOCB)? (Hint: This has to do with
density
in ocean saltwater and does not account for
wind.)
Deep ocean currents are driven by thermohaline circulation, thermo (heat/ temperature)
and haline (salt/saline) in coordination with surface ocean currents.
Highlight Answers: Cold saltwater is (
more/less) saline than warm saltwater. Cold
saltwater is (
more/less dense than warm saltwater causing it to (rise/
sink) in deep
ocean circulation.
Highlight Answers: Warm saltwater is (more/
less) saline than cold saltwater. Warm
saltwater is (more/
less dense than cold saltwater causing it to (
rise/sink) in deep ocean
circulation.
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How do deep ocean currents (GOCB) benefit the marine biome biologically?
Deep ocean currents sustain marine life. This is because deep ocean currents are
responsible for nutrient upwelling. Nutrient upwelling occurs when the cold nutrient rich waters
close to the bottom of the ocean rise up to the photic zone where they can be used to boost the
rate of photosynthesis.
How do deep ocean currents (GOCB) regulate global climate?
Currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar
radiation reaching Earth's surface.
How do deep ocean currents (GOCB) regulate carbon?
The ocean is known as a “carbon sink” absorbing and storing the atmosphere's carbon
with physical and biological mechanisms, carbon from the atmosphere is moved to the deep
ocean via ocean currents
People & The Ocean
Provide one example of People & The Ocean. Briefly explain this example. Why does
humanity need the ocean?
The ocean allows humans to trade, and gives many of us jobs in fisheries, trade,
shipping, tourism and travel. The ocean also is a source of minerals, energy resources, and
medicines. It provides us with the opportunity for ocean sports and activities.
Provide ten facts from viewing the documentary
Blue Planet II: Our Blue Planet.
1. Dolphins self-medicate
2. Orcas can stun herring using their tales
3. Tuskfish use tools
4. Waves possess explosive power
5. Trevally can calculate air speed, altitude and trajectory of prey
6. Plankton are the lungs of the planet
7. ‘False Killer Whales’ form friendships with dolphins
8. The Arctic is shrinking rapidly
9. The Asian Sheepshead Wrasse is capable of changing sex
10. Blue Planet II took four years to make