Oceanography Basics

Front

What percentage of the Earth is covered by oceans?

Back

70%

Front

What do all oceans contain?

Back

All oceans contain dissolved salt and dissolved gases.

Front

What is salinity?

Back

the amount of dissolved salts in water.

Front

Why is the ocean salty?

Back

The ocean is salty because rain, rivers, and streams wash over rocks and carry different salts from the rocks into the sea.

Front

What are the basic motions of the ocean?

Back

The basic motions of the ocean are waves, currents, and tides.

Front

What causes ocean waves?

Back

Ocean waves are caused by Earth's winds. Faster, stronger winds create stronger and larger waves.

Front

What are currents in the ocean?

Back

Currents are rivers of water moving through the oceans, caused by Earth's winds, salinity, and differences in temperature.

Front

What is the Gulf Stream?

Back

The Gulf Stream is one of the Atlantic Ocean's main warm water surface currents. It influences weather along the east coast of North America and travels across the Atlantic to Europe.

Front

What causes tides?

Back

Tides are caused mostly by the force of the moon's gravity.

Front

What happens to water pressure as you travel deeper into the ocean?

Back

As you travel deeper into the ocean, water pressure increases.