Unit 8 Vocabulary Words

Surface current

• Ocean currents that occur at or near the surface of the ocean, driven by wind.

• Deep ocean currents that flow below the surface, driven by temperature and salinity differences.

• Currents that are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.

• Currents that occur only in coastal areas and are not influenced by wind.

Reservoir

• A natural or artificial place where water is collected and stored for use.

• A type of water treatment facility that purifies drinking water.

• A large body of saltwater, such as an ocean or sea.

• A structure built to divert rivers for irrigation purposes.

Climate

• The short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific area.

• The long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.

• The average temperature of a region over a year.

• The amount of rainfall in a specific month.

Continental slope

• The slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor.

• A flat area of the ocean floor that is covered by water.

• The steep area of land that rises from the ocean floor to the shoreline.

• The region where ocean currents are strongest and most turbulent.

Freshwater

• Water that is salty, found in oceans and seas.

• Water that is not salty, found in rivers, lakes, and streams.

• Water that is found only in glaciers and ice caps.

• Water that is contaminated and unsafe to drink.

Density

• The weight of an object in air.

• The mass of a substance per unit volume, important in oceanography for understanding water movement.

• The temperature at which a substance melts.

• The amount of space an object occupies.

Sonar

• A technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate, or detect objects underwater.

• A method for measuring the depth of water using light.

• A system for tracking weather patterns using radio waves.

• A technology for underwater photography using infrared light.

Watershed

• An area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet.

• A type of ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife.

• A geographical region defined by its climate and vegetation.

• A method of water conservation used in agriculture.

Weather

• The state of the atmosphere at a place and time, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation.

• A long-term average of atmospheric conditions in a region.

• The measurement of atmospheric pressure at sea level.

• The phenomenon of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Water Cycle

• The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

• The process of water freezing into ice and melting back into water.

• The evaporation of water from plants and soil into the atmosphere.

• The collection of water in rivers, lakes, and oceans.