Oceans Unit

Front

What is the main cause of the tides?

Back

The gravitational pull of the moon.

Front

What is the Continental Rise?

Back

The area of the ocean floor that rises gently from the continental slope to the ocean basin.

Front

What are tides?

Back

The daily rise and fall of sea level at a given location, primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the moon.

Front

What is thermohaline circulation?

Back

The global movement of ocean water in a cycle of surface and deep currents driven by differences in density related to salinity and temperature.

Front

What is a crest in ocean waves?

Back

The highest point of a wave.

Front

What is a trough in ocean waves?

Back

The lowest point of a wave.

Front

What is wavelength?

Back

The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs in a wave.

Front

What causes ocean currents?

Back

Differences in temperature, salinity, and wind patterns.

Front

What is upwelling?

Back

The process where deep, cold water rises to the surface, bringing nutrients with it.

Front

What are gyres?

Back

Large systems of circulating ocean currents, primarily driven by wind.