CORNELL NOTES
UNIT C, CHAPTER 3- Ocean Systems
MAIN IDEAS\
QUESTIONS
NOTES:
ESTUARY
An estuary is a body of water formed
where freshwater from rivers and
streams flows into the ocean, mixing
with the seawater.
SEDIMENT
The solid organic and inorganic matter
that is carried by water and settles at
the bottom of streams, lakes, and
oceans as it moves.
BRACKISH
Water that is slightly salty, as is the
mixture of river water and seawater
in estuaries
TIDE
The alternate rising and falling of
the sea, usually twice in each lunar
day at a particular place, due to the
attraction of the moon and sun.
UPWELLING
Water that rises to the surface from the
bottom of the ocean. It is typically
colder and is rich in nutrients. These
nutrients “fertilize” surface waters,
often leading to high biological
productivity.
DOWNWELLING
A downward current of surface water
in the ocean, usually caused by
differences in the density of seawater.
It carries sediment to the bottom of the
ocean.
NEKTON
Fast-moving organisms ranging from
small shrimp and fish to whales. Some
zooplanktons live their whole life as
plankton, while others change to
become nekton and benthos.
PLANKTON
The small and microscopic organisms
drifting or floating in the sea or fresh
water, consisting chiefly of diatoms,
protozoan, small crustaceans, and the
eggs and larval stages of larger
animals.
ZOOPLANKTON
Consists of the larvae of animals,
including copepods, rotifers, jellyfish,
coral, and sea anemone, that drift in the
ocean.
PHYTOPLANKTON
Small microscopic plants and other
photosynthetic organisms, including
cyanobacteria, diatoms, and
dinoflagellates.
PHOTIC ZONE
The layers of the ocean reached by
sufficient sunlight to allow plant
growth.
EUPHOTIC ZONE
The upper layers of a body of water
into which sufficient light penetrates to
permit growth of green plants.
APHOTIC ZONE
The upper layers of a body of water
into which sufficient light penetrates to
permit growth of green plants.
NERITIC ZONE
The relatively shallow part of the
ocean above the drop-off of the
continental shelf, approximately
200m in depth.
PELAGIC ZONE
The open sea, or everything except
areas near the coast and the sea floor is
called the pelagic zone. Animals such
as sea turtles, sharks, dolphin, tuna,
and whales feed there.
BENTHIC ZONE
It comprises the bottom of the ocean or
lake floor, and the sediment surface,
and some sub-surface layers. Food is
scarce gaps between their teeth to
ingest many types of food (angel fish,
squid, black swallower, tripod fish).
OCEAN TOURISM
One of the largest service industries
in the US because of its clean water.
Activities include skiing, boating,
snorkeling, SCUBA diving,
aquariums, fishing, hotels and
restaurants.
FISHERY
A place where see are raised and
harvested under the supervision of
some authority.
SHIPPING
Using boats to transport goods, and
materials over rivers and oceans.
SONAR
SOund Navigation And Ranging is a
technique that uses sound propagation
(usually underwater, as in submarine
navigation) to navigate, communicate
with, or detect objects on or under the
surface of the water, such as other
vessels.
BIOTIC RESOURCE
Biotic describes a living or once living
component of a community; for
example organisms, such as plants and
animals.
SUBSTANABILITY
How biological systems remain diverse
and productive. Long-lived and healthy
wetlands and forests are examples of
sustainable biological systems.
SUMMARY