Oceanography Flashcards (Earth Science)

Front

A mountain under the ocean formed over a hot spot

Back

Seamount

Front

The flattest regions on Earth; located on the ocean floor

Back

Abyssal plains

Front

Locating how deep or far away something is using sound waves; used to make topographic maps of the ocean floor

Back

Sonar

Front

A mountain range located on the ocean floor; extends for 40,000 miles; site of sea floor spreading; form at divergent boundaries; youngest ocean crust found here

Back

Mid-ocean ridge

Front

A large wave created by underwater earthquakes or landslides; also called a tidal wave, but NOT caused by the moon’s gravitational pull

Back

Tsunami

Front

Movement of nutrient rich water from the bottom of the ocean to the surface; very important for ocean plants and animals on the continental shelf

Back

Upwelling

Front

A measure of how salty the water is

Back

Salinity

Front

The rise and fall of water level caused by the gravitational pull of the moon (and to a lesser extent the gravitational pull of the Sun)

Back

Tides