Marine Science
Mr. Bromwell/Miss Schuller
Chapter 3 Test (Part 1: Marine Chemistry)
STUDY GUIDE
November 11, 2010
Format:
This test will consist of 30 multiple-choice questions and 3 short answer questions for a total of
50 points. You will have 35 minutes to complete the test.
Important Terms:
The test will focus on (but not be limited to) the following terms. It will be important to know
and understand these for the test.
chemical property
physical property
hydrogen bonds
evaporation
density
latent heat of evaporation
latent heat of fusion
specific heat
conductivity
evaporative cooling
polarity
polar covalent
viscosity
surface tension
universal solvent
cohesion
adhesion
salinity
parts per thousand
practical salinity units (psu)
rule of constant proportions
carbon buffering system
coccolithophore
foraminifera
bloom
halocline
thermocline
pycnocline
depth profile
pressure
light transparency
atmosphere (unit)
biogeographical zones
stability
water column
stratification
surface layer
intermediate layer
deep & bottom layers
instability
overturn
downwelling
water mass
water column
thermohaline circulation
Important Concepts:
A student in this course should be able to:
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Tell the difference between the chemical and physical properties of water.
List and describe the properties of pure water and seawater.
Explain why the internal chemistry of water allows it to form hydrogen bonds and why the properties that
result for this form of bonding is critical to water as a medium for ocean life (i.e. viscosity, surface tension,
high latent heat of fusion/evaporation, etc.).
Explain how salinity affects the freezing point of water.
Explain the relationship between temperature and density in water - particularly what happens at 4ºC.
Explain the roles of conduction and convection in transferring heat from atmosphere to water.
Explain why water is termed the universal solvent.
Interpret the sea surface salinity patterns on the globe
Know the factors that affect salinity in the oceans.
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Know how to express salinity in units. Know the average salinity of the world’s oceans.
Explain the carbon buffering system. Explain how changes in atmospheric CO2 levels could change ocean
chemistry and affect calcium carbonate based organisms.
Explain how the parameters of density, temperature, light, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pressure change
with depth.
Interpret a profile of a water column (Fig. 3.8, Fig. 3.13, Fig. 3.15, and Fig. 3.16 and those distributed on
the PowerPoint and handouts.)
Know the differences between the seasonal and main thermoclines. Understand how biogeographical
zones influence seasonal patterns in the ocean.
Explain the pattern of light absorption in the ocean. Which colors are absorbed first? Extend deepest?
How does light absorption affect the location of euphotic zones, disphotic zones, aphotic zones, and
oxygen minimum zones?
Explain the effects of pressure on deep sea animals that are brought to the surface.
Explain the pattern of dissolved oxygen in the ocean and what causes this pattern.
Describe the conditions that lead to stratification.
Describe the characteristics of a water column that is stable and one that is unstable.
Understand how density differences in the ocean drive global thermohaline circulation (the great ocean
conveyor).
Explain the difference between up- and down-welling. What drives/causes each?