Oceanography Vocab

Front

Waves

Back

Moving ridges of water on the ocean surface caused by wind, leading to shoreline weathering.

Front

Currents

Back

Global patterns of moving ocean water streams from global winds.

Front

Gulfstream

Back

A warm ocean current from the Gulf of Mexico to North West Europe.

Front

Tides

Back

The rise and fall of the ocean due to the gravitational force of the moon and sun.

Front

Salinity

Back

Total dissolved salts in a water sample.

Front

Density

Back

Mass per unit volume, indicating how tightly molecules are packed.

Front

Coriolis Effect

Back

Effect of Earth's rotation on wind and current direction.

Front

Upwelling

Back

Movement of deep, cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface.

Front

Deep-ocean trench

Back

A deep valley on the ocean floor where oceanic crust sinks towards the mantle.

Front

Mid-ocean ridge

Back

An underwater mountain chain where new ocean floor is formed.