--Cornell Notes
Topic/Objective:
Name:
Exploring the Ocean and Wave Action
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Date:
Essential Question:
Questions:
Notes:
Exploring the Ocean
If you could travel along the ocean floor, you would see the continental shelf, the
continental slope, the abyssal plain,, seamounts, volcanic islands, trenches, and
the mid-ocean ridge.
The gradually sloping area that borders each continent is the continental shelf. A
steady incline marks the beginning of the continental slope.
The thick layers of sediment, formed by the sunken remains of dead organisms
from the surface cover the flat area of the abyssal plain.
The mid-ocean ridge has many peaks along both sides of a central valley. This
chain of undersea mountains runs all around the world. This happens at a
divergent boundary (where the plates are moving away from each other).
When volcanoes on the ocean floor erupt, they can create mountains. The
volcanic lava begins to build up and can become a volcanic island.
Seamounts are mountains whose peaks never reach the surface of the ocean.
Trenches are the deepest areas of the ocean. The Mariana Trench in the Pacific is
11 kilometers (11,000 meters) deep.
Wave Action
Most waves form when winds blowing across the water's surface transmit energy
to the water.
Near shore, wave height increases and wavelength decreases
As waves come ashore, water washes up the beach at an angle, carrying sand
grains. The water and sand then run straight back down the beach.
Waves shape a beach by eroding the shore in some places and building it up in
others.
Summary:
--Cornell Notes
Topic/Objective:
Name:
Tides, Ocean Water Chemistry, and Currents and
Climate
Class/Period:
Date:
Essential Question:
Questions:
Notes:
Tides
Tides are caused by the interaction of Earth, the moon, and the sun.
Changes in the positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun affects the heights of
the tides during a month
The movement of huge amounts of water between high and low tides is a source
of potential energy.
Ocean Water Chemistry
On average, one kilogram of ocean water contains about 35 grams of salt
Like temperatures on land, temperatures at the surface of the ocean vary with
location and the seasons. Gases in ocean water vary as well.
As you descend through the ocean, that water temperature decreases. Pressure
increases continuously with depth in the ocean.
Currents and Climate
Surface currents are driven mainly by winds. A surface current warms or cools the
air above it, influencing the climate of land near the ocean.
Deep currents are caused by differences in the density of ocean water. Deep
currents move and mix water around the world.
Upwelling brings up tiny ocean organisms, minerals, and other nutrients from the
deeper layers of the water.
Summary: