Oceans

Oceans. What do you know about the oceans? How is the bathymetry determined? Satellite altimetry. Geosat satellite. Geosat image of the ocean floor. Continental margins where land meets the sea. Passive margin without a plate boundary. Active margin contains a plate boundary. Variations in temperature. Changes in the. Variations in Sun’s rays with latitude. Layers of the Ocean what determines the ocean’s layers? Temperature warmer at equator cooler near the poles. Temperature variations within ocean basins sketch and describe. Salinity of Seawater. The amount of solid material dissolved in water. Source of salts? Do you think salinity varies within ocean basins or is the same? What factors may change the salinity? Salinity. Precipitation and Evaporation. Density how heavy something is relative to its size. Density determines the vertical position. Photic zone where light penetrates upper 600 ft or 200 m. Plankton. microscopic animals and plants. Coriolis effect earth’s rotation causes gyres. Gyres or circular patterns in the oceans create currents. The Gulf Stream. Air Temperature is influenced by ocean currents. Ocean currents influence climate. Upwelling. Upwelling bottom waters are nutrient rich. Upwelling where. Upwelling significance. Tides. Spring Tides. Neap Tides. Why is the ocean blue? Did life begin in the oceans?