Oceanography Terms

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tide

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the daily rise and fall of Earth's waters on its coastlines

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spring tide

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a tide with the greatest difference between high and low tide that occurs when the sun and the moon are aligned with earth at the new moon and full moon

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neap tide

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a tide with the least difference between low and high tide that occurs when the sun and moon pull at right angles of each other at the first and third quarters

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salinity

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the total amount of dissolved salts in a water sample

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submersible

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an underwater vehicle built of strong materials to resist pressure

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current

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a large stream of moving water that flows through the ocean

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Coriolis effect

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The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents

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climate

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The average, year-after-year conditions of temperature, precipitation, winds, and clouds, in an area

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El Nino

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a climate event that occurs every two to seven years in the Pacific Ocean, during which winds shift and push warm water toward the coast of South America

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upwelling

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the moving of cold water upward from the deep ocean that is caused by wind