The Ocean - VASOL - 4.7

Front

What are the important features of the ocean floor?

Back

Continental shelf, continental slope,

continental rise, abyssal plain, and ocean trenches.

Front

What covers most areas of the ocean floor?

Back

Thick layers of sediments such as sand, mud, and rocks.

Front

How does the depth of the ocean vary?

Back

Ocean trenches are very deep, while the continental shelf is relatively shallow.

Front

What is ocean water composed of?

Back

A complex mixture of gases, water, and dissolved solids.

Front

Why are dissolved gases important in ocean water?

Back

Marine organisms depend on dissolved gases for survival.

Front

What is salinity?

Back

The measure of all salts dissolved in water.

Front

What factors affect the salinity of ocean water?

Back

Rates of evaporation, depth of the water, melting icebergs, and runoff from nearby land.

Front

What causes ocean currents?

Back

Wind patterns and differences in water temperature.

Front

How do ocean currents affect the ocean environment?

Back

They affect the mixing of ocean waters, plant and animal populations, and navigation routes.

Front

What role do plants and floating organisms play in the ocean?

Back

They serve as producers within a food chain.