ABCs to Oceanography

1
ABCs to Oceanography
2
Index of Oceanography Terms

• Numerical Models
• Ocean
• Phytoplankton
• QuikSCAT
• Rain
• Sea Spray
• Tides
• Upwelling
• Vector Wind Stress
• Waves
• Heat Flux
• Oceanography
• Zooplankton

• Atmosphere
• Buoyancy
• Currents
• Density
• Epipelagic Zone
• Food Chain
• Gulf Stream
• Hydrophones
• Inertia
• Jason-1
• Knot
• Lead Line
• Meteorology

3
tmosphere
A
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• A thin blanket of air that protects Earth
• The atmosphere is crucial to life on Earth
• Without the atmosphere
• Organisms would die within a few minutes
• There would be no lakes, oceans, sounds, clouds,
  or red sunsets
• Earth would experience extremely cold
  temperatures at night and extremely warm
  temperatures during the day

4
tmosphere
A

• Extension of Atmosphere
• The atmosphere and the ocean are closely
  linked
• The entire atmosphere holds as much heat as
  the top 2.5 meters (8 feet) of the ocean
• The entire atmosphere holds as much water as
  2.5 centimeters (1 inch) of the ocean
• Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) - lowest part
  of the atmosphere
• Wind strength and the heat flux between the
  air and ocean impact ABL thickness
• Cloud patterns within the ABL
• Cumulus stratocumulus at the top of a humid
  ABL
• Fog at the bottom of a stable ABL (little
  mixing)

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• A thin blanket of air that protects Earth
• The atmosphere is crucial to life on Earth
• Without the atmosphere
• Organisms would die within a few minutes
• There would be no lakes, oceans, sounds, clouds,
  or red sunsets
• Earth would experience extremely cold
  temperatures at night and extremely warm
  temperatures during the day

5
tmosphere
A
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• A thin blanket of air that protects Earth
• The atmosphere is crucial to life on Earth
• Without the atmosphere
• Organisms would die within a few minutes
• There would be no lakes, oceans, sounds, clouds,
  or red sunsets
• Earth would experience extremely cold
  temperatures at night and extremely warm
  temperatures during the day

6
uoyancy
B

• A force created by differences in density
• When two substances with different densities are
• mixed in a container, buoyancy causes the
• Less dense substance to rise to the top
• More dense substance to sink to the bottom
• Where is buoyancy visible in real life?

• Syrup sinks to the bottom of a glass of water
  because syrup is more dense than water

• Hot air balloons rise in the air because the warm
  air inside the balloon is less dense than the
  surrounding air

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
7
urrents
C

• Continuous, directed movement of large streams of
  ocean water
• Two major types of currents
• Surface Currents
• Form when surface winds push the water in the
  direction of the wind
• Deep Ocean Currents
• Huge water masses move and mix in response to
  changes in water temperature and salinity
• Why are currents important?
• Currents influence the climate, ship
• routes, and the lives of plants
• and animals living on land
• and in oceans

Fast Fact The Gulf Stream is both a surface
current and a deep ocean current
http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/physical/OSC.htm
l
8
urrents
C

• Extension of Currents
• Coriolis Effect - the earths rotation causes
  ocean currents to bend
• Northern Hemisphere currents forced to the
  right
• Southern Hemisphere currents forced to the
  left
• Coriolis force is strongest at the Poles and
  weakest at the equator
• The bending angle of currents increases with
  ocean depth
• A deep ocean current may flow in a direction
  different than the surface current

• Continuous, directed movement of large streams of
  ocean water
• Two major types of currents
• Surface Currents
• Form when surface winds push the water in the
  direction of the wind
• Deep Ocean Currents
• Huge water masses move and mix in response to
  changes in water temperature and salinity
• Why are currents important?
• Currents influence the climate, ship
• routes, and the lives of plants
• and animals living on land
• and in oceans

Fast Fact The Gulf Stream is both a surface
current and a deep ocean current
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/physical/OSC.htm
l
20
9
urrents
C

• Continuous, directed movement of large streams of
  ocean water
• Two major types of currents
• Surface Currents
• Form when surface winds push the water in the
  direction of the wind
• Deep Ocean Currents
• Huge water masses move and mix in response to
  changes in water temperature and salinity
• Why are currents important?
• Currents influence the climate, ship
• routes, and the lives of plants
• and animals living on land
• and in oceans

Fast Fact The Gulf Stream is both a surface
current and a deep ocean current
http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/physical/OSC.htm
l
10
ensity
D

• A measure of how heavy something is
• in relation to its size (mass per unit
  volume)
• Temperature and salinity affect the density of
  ocean water
• What is salinity?
• A measure of the amount of salt dissolved in water

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• Graph shows density of ocean water
• based on salinity and temperature
• Observations from graph
• An increase in temperature results in a
• decrease in density
• An increase in salinity results in an
• increase in density

16
11
ensity

• Extension of Density
• Ocean density changes throughout
• Low density water can be found near the
  surface
• High density water can be found deep in the
  ocean
• Pycnocline an ocean layer where water
  density
• increases rapidly with depth
• Changes in the density of surface water
• If the density of the surface water decreases
• Its position will remain the same
• If the surface water becomes more dense
• than the water below
• It will sink to a level where there is
• water with the same density

D

• A measure of how heavy something is
• in relation to its size (mass per unit
  volume)
• Temperature and salinity affect the density of
  ocean water
• What is salinity?
• A measure of the amount of salt dissolved in water

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• Graph shows density of ocean water
• based on salinity and temperature
• Observations from graph
• An increase in temperature results in a
• decrease in density
• An increase in salinity results in an
• increase in density

16
12
ensity
D

• A measure of how heavy something is
• in relation to its size (mass per unit
  volume)
• Temperature and salinity affect the density of
  ocean water
• What is salinity?
• A measure of the amount of salt dissolved in water

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• Graph shows density of ocean water
• based on salinity and temperature
• Observations from graph
• An increase in temperature results in a
• decrease in density
• An increase in salinity results in an
• increase in density

16
13
pipelagic Zone
E

• Top layer of the ocean where
• sunlight is present
• Plants take in the sunlight to
• complete photosynthesis
• The epipelagic zone is the only zone where plants
  are found
• What can be found below the epipelagic zone?
• The mesopelagic zone, or twilight zone
• The dim light found in this zone does not provide
  enough energy for plants to perform
  photosynthesis
• In the 3 zones that exist beyond this zone there
  is zero sunlight

22
14
ood Chain
F

• A sequence of marine organisms that pass
  nutrients to one another
• Sun - main source of energy for marine food
  chains
• Producers take in the Suns energy to make their
  food
• Phytoplankton major producers in the ocean
• Consumers eat other organisms since they cannot
  produce their own food
• Does pollution harm the food chain?
• Yes
• If phytoplankton absorb marine pollutants, the
  pollutants eventually accumulate to lethal levels
  in larger animals
• What is a food web?
• Several intertwined food chains resultant of
  organisms belonging to more than one food chain

20
15
ulf Stream
G

• A strong, warm water ocean current
• General flow of the Gulf Stream
• The current begins in the western Caribbean Sea,
• passes through the Gulf of Mexico and the
  Straits
• of Florida, and then flows along the North
• American coast to northern European waters
• The exact path the current takes changes daily

10
Modern Map of the Gulf Stream

• Example impact of the Gulf Stream
• The current is about 80F near the Gulf of Mexico
• The Gulf Stream releases heat into the atmosphere
  as it cools along its journey
• Added heat in the atmosphere
• significantly warms Europe

16
16
ulf Stream
G

• Extension of Gulf Stream
• The Gulf Stream flows at a rate of
• 4 miles per hour (6.5 kilometers per hour)
• The strong current can be felt as deep
• as 1500 feet from the surface
• Characteristics of the boundary between
• the Gulf Stream and the surrounding water
• The temperature is usually 11F to 18F (6C
  to 10C)
• warmer than water surrounding the current
• The water within the Gulf Stream is
• warm and clear blue due to its lack
• of nutrients
• The water surrounding the Gulf Stream is
• cloudy green due to the large
• quantity of phytoplankton

• A strong, warm water ocean current
• General flow of the Gulf Stream
• The current begins in the western Caribbean Sea,
• passes through the Gulf of Mexico and the
  Straits
• of Florida, and then flows along the North
• American coast to northern European waters
• The exact path the current takes changes daily

10
Modern Map of the Gulf Stream

• Example impact of the Gulf Stream
• The current is about 80F near the Gulf of Mexico
• The Gulf Stream releases heat into the atmosphere
  as it cools along its journey
• Added heat in the atmosphere
• significantly warms Europe

17
False-Color Image of Temperature Data for Gulf
Stream
16
17
ulf Stream
G

• A strong, warm water ocean current
• General flow of the Gulf Stream
• The current begins in the western Caribbean Sea,
• passes through the Gulf of Mexico and the
  Straits
• of Florida, and then flows along the North
• American coast to northern European waters
• The exact path the current takes changes daily

10
Modern Map of the Gulf Stream

• Example impact of the Gulf Stream
• The current is about 80F near the Gulf of Mexico
• The Gulf Stream releases heat into the atmosphere
  as it cools along its journey
• Added heat in the atmosphere
• significantly warms Europe

16
18
ydrophones
H
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• Underwater microphones that record underwater
  sound
• Sound in the ocean is produced mainly by
• Bubbles created from breaking waves and falling
  rain
• The engine and propellers of ships
• Marine mammals like whales and dolphins
• Why do scientists record the sound of rain
  falling on the water?
• To measure and understand global rainfall
  patterns
• Rain is a very important part of climate
• The measurements help meteorologists,
  oceanographers, and scientists in their study of
  the climate

Image from Brüel Kjær Sound Vibration
Measurement A/S http//www.bksv.com/pdf/Bp0317.pdf
19
nertia
I
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• The property of an object to remain at a constant
  velocity (speed) unless acted on by an outside
  force
• The ocean has a high temperature and momentum
  inertia in comparison to the atmosphere

• Example of oceanic vs. atmospheric inertia
• Circulation in the ocean occurs at a slow rate
• Changes occur over months, years, decades, and
  centuries
• Atmospheric weather systems form and break
• apart within a single day
• Changes occur over seconds, minutes, hours, and
  days

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
20
ason-1
J

• Jason-1 is an Earth-orbiting satellite used for
  ocean surveillance
• Launched in December 2001
• Radar altimeters on Jason-1 measure sea level
• Microwave signals are sent by the altimeter to
  the oceans surface
• The length of time it takes the signal to travel
  down to the surface and back is recorded
• Scientists use this information and the
  satellites location to determine sea level

• Why do oceanographers use altimeters?
• Detect and monitor ocean currents
• Tide monitoring modeling
• Oceanographers need to be able to study all of
  the worlds oceans to understand their impact on
  our weather and climate

http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/physical/OST.htm
l
21
ason-1
J

• Extension of Jason-1
• In order to mathematically determine the
  distance from the satellite to the ocean
• surface
• Divide the total time by two and multiply by
  the speed of light (c 3 x 108)
• Water vapor in the air can cause Jason-1 to
  overestimate the distance from the
• satellite to the oceans surface by as much
  as 10 centimeters
• Jason-1 listens to the radio waves produced by
  the clouds and the ocean, to
• determine the amount of water vapor in the
  air and correct for the error
• Jason-1 is able to complete its entire process
  and
• transmit the data back to earth within 3
  hours

• Jason-1 is an Earth-orbiting satellite used for
  ocean surveillance
• Launched in December 2001
• Radar altimeters on Jason-1 measure sea level
• Microwave signals are sent by the altimeter to
  the oceans surface
• The length of time it takes the signal to travel
  down to the surface and back is recorded
• Scientists use this information and the
  satellites location to determine sea level

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• Why do oceanographers use altimeters?
• Detect and monitor ocean currents
• Tide monitoring modeling
• Oceanographers need to be able to study all of
  the worlds oceans to understand their impact on
  our weather and climate

http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/physical/OST.htm
l
22
ason-1
J

• Jason-1 is an Earth-orbiting satellite used for
  ocean surveillance
• Launched in December 2001
• Radar altimeters on Jason-1 measure sea level
• Microwave signals are sent by the altimeter to
  the oceans surface
• The length of time it takes the signal to travel
  down to the surface and back is recorded
• Scientists use this information and the
  satellites location to determine sea level

• Why do oceanographers use altimeters?
• Detect and monitor ocean currents
• Tide monitoring modeling
• Oceanographers need to be able to study all of
  the worlds oceans to understand their impact on
  our weather and climate

http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/physical/OST.htm
l
23
not
K

• A knot is a nautical mile per hour
• A nautical mile equals 6,076 feet or 1,823 meters
• 1 knot is equal to 1.15 miles per hour (mph) or
  1.85 kilometers per hour (kph)

http//www.flickr.com/photos/tcd123/743633948/
http//www.flickr.com/photos/lyng883/329639190/

• How did early sailors use a knot to measure the
  speed of a ship?
• Knots were tied at regular intervals along a rope
  and a log was attached to the end
• The rope was thrown overboard and the log floated
  along behind the moving ship
• A sailor counted the number of knots that passed
  through his hands during a specified amount of
  time
• The more knots that passed through the sailors
  hands, the faster the ship was moving
• The term knot continues to be used today to
  measure a ships speed

24
ead Line
L
Lead Line

• A long piece of rope that had a lead weight tied
  at one end and markings in six foot intervals
• The weight was thrown into the ocean
• Measurements were taken by noting how much line
  went into the ocean until the lead reached the
  bottom

http//celebrating200years.noaa.gov/transformation
s/hydrography/side.html

• Lead lines were used by early sailors to
  determine
• Ocean depth at certain points along a journey
• What is currently used to measure ocean depth?
• Echo sounders provide oceanographers with a
• graphical view of the sea floor

Echo Sounder
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_sounding
25
ead Line

• Extension of Lead Line
• How do echo sounders measure sea level?
• A pulse of sound energy is sent toward the
  bottom
• of the ocean
• Sound disturbs water as it travels through it,
  
• creating sound waves
• The amount of time it takes the pulse to
  travel to the
• bottom and back up to the surface is
  recorded and
• the depth of the water is then
  calculated
• Sound waves are the most efficient signal in
  sensing
• the ocean below a depth of a few 10s of
  meters
• The average speed of sound in water is
• 1500 meters per second
• Applies to ocean water free of air bubbles
• Speed of sound in water is dependent on
• Depth of ocean water
• Temperature
• Salinity

L
Lead Line

• A long piece of rope that had a lead weight tied
  at one end and markings in six foot intervals
• The weight was thrown into the ocean
• Measurements were taken by noting how much line
  went into the ocean until the lead reached the
  bottom

http//celebrating200years.noaa.gov

• Lead lines were used by early sailors to
  determine
• Ocean depth at certain points along a journey
• What is currently used to measure ocean depth?
• Echo sounders provide oceanographers with a
• graphical view of the sea floor

Echo Sounder
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_sounding
26
ead Line
L
Lead Line

• A long piece of rope that had a lead weight tied
  at one end and markings in six foot intervals
• The weight was thrown into the ocean
• Measurements were taken by noting how much line
  went into the ocean until the lead reached the
  bottom

http//celebrating200years.noaa.gov

• Lead lines were used by early sailors to
  determine
• Ocean depth at certain points along a journey
• What is currently used to measure ocean depth?
• Echo sounders provide oceanographers with a
• graphical view of the sea floor

Echo Sounder
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echo_sounding
27
eteorology
M

• Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and
  the interaction between the atmosphere and the
  land, ocean, and life

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• The physics, chemistry, and unique processes of
  Earths atmosphere are explored in great detail
  by meteorologists
• Meteorologists try to completely understand the
  atmosphere, so they can predict how it is going
  to behave

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
28
umerical Models
N

• Mathematical calculations that provide
  oceanographers with detailed views of circulation
  in the oceans
• Two main types of numerical models
• Mechanistic models simplified models that
  examine the mathematics behind physical processes
• Simulation models complex models that can be
  used to calculate the realistic flow in the ocean

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• What are some of the advantages and disadvantages
  of using numerical models?
• Advantage
• The models can be used to simulate realistic flow
  and predict future flow in the ocean
• Disadvantage
• The models cannot give completely accurate
  descriptions of the flow in the ocean

29
cean
O
http//www.ngdc.noaa.gov/

• A large body of salt water
• Millions of years ago Earths surface was very
  hot and all the water boiled away
• Volcanoes released large amounts of steam into
  the atmosphere
• As Earth cooled, the steam changed to water
  vapor, and condensed to raindrops
• Rain fell thousands of years filling all the
  cracks on Earth with ocean water

• What impact does air-sea interaction have on
  Earth?
• The ocean constantly interacts with the
  atmosphere, exchanging
• heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide (CO2)
• The air-sea interaction drives our weather
• patterns and influences the slowly
• occurring but dramatic changes in
• our climate

30
hytoplankton
P

• Microscopic, single-celled marine plants that
• need water, CO2, sunlight, and chemical
  nutrients to grow
• Phytoplankton use a pigment called chlorophyll to
  capture sunlight during photosynthesis
• They decrease the amount of sunlight that reaches
  deeper water
• Confines oceanic heating to a small layer
• Why are phytoplankton important?
• Approximately half of the oxygen we breathe
• is produced by phytoplankton
• They take in CO2 from the atmosphere at the
• same rate as land plants
• All marine life is dependent upon the quantity
• of phytoplankton available

http//www.flickr.com/photos/dodeckahedron/1324306
86/
31
hytoplankton
P

• Extension of Phytoplankton
• Currents can usually be traced by their supply
  of phytoplankton
• Scientists use satellites to remotely observe
  chlorophyll, which is contained in the
• phytoplankton
• The images tell them
• How much phytoplankton is present in the
  ocean
• Where they are located
• How much work they are performing
• How their populations are changing
• On Earth, humans can observe the phytoplankton
• present in lakes and oceans
• Chlorophyll absorbs blue and red light
• and reflects green light
• A water source that appears green in
• color most likely contains some phytoplankton

• Microscopic, single-celled marine plants that
• need water, CO2, sunlight, and chemical
  nutrients to grow
• Phytoplankton use a pigment called chlorophyll to
  capture sunlight during photosynthesis
• They decrease the amount of sunlight that reaches
  deeper water
• Confines oceanic heating to a small layer
• Why are phytoplankton important?
• Approximately half of the oxygen we breathe
• is produced by phytoplankton
• They take in CO2 from the atmosphere at the
• same rate as land plants
• All marine life is dependent upon the quantity
• of phytoplankton available

http//www.flickr.com/photos/dodeckahedron/1324306
86/
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
32
hytoplankton
P

• Microscopic, single-celled marine plants that
• need water, CO2, sunlight, and chemical
  nutrients to grow
• Phytoplankton use a pigment called chlorophyll to
  capture sunlight during photosynthesis
• They decrease the amount of sunlight that reaches
  deeper water
• Confines oceanic heating to a small layer
• Why are phytoplankton important?
• Approximately half of the oxygen we breathe
• is produced by phytoplankton
• They take in CO2 from the atmosphere at the
• same rate as land plants
• All marine life is dependent upon the quantity
• of phytoplankton available

http//www.flickr.com/photos/dodeckahedron/1324306
86/
33
uikSCAT
Q

• A satellite NASA uses to create an image of the
  surface winds on Earth
• The QuikSCAT satellite carries a SeaWinds
  scatterometer
• A scatterometer is a microwave radar that can
  measure near-surface wind speed and direction
  over the ocean under any weather conditions
• Why are scatterometers useful?
• They are giving meteorologists
• More accurate measurements of the winds
  associated with storms
• Advanced warning of high waves and flooding

http//science.hq.nasa.gov/
34
ain
R
http//www.flickr.com/photos/viewthis/521909936/

• Precipitation that falls from clouds toward
  Earths surface
• Rain is an important part of the climate
• The latent heat released into the atmosphere upon
  the formation of raindrops is a significant form
  of energy that drives circulation in the
  atmosphere
• Why do meteorologists, oceanographers, and
  climate scientists find it important to measure
  rainfall patterns?
• Scientists suspect that after rainfall the layers
  of fresh water at the
• surface of the ocean affect circulation in
  the ocean
• Rainfall appears to calm the seas
• Scientists question impact of rainfall on ocean
  damping

35
ain

• Extension of Rain
• Drizzle water droplets with a diameter less
  than 0.5 millimeters (mm)
• Rain water droplets with a diameter greater
  than or equal to 0.5 mm
• The diameter of a raindrop that reaches
  Earths surface is usually no greater
• than 6 mm
• The shape of a raindrop is dependent on its
  size
• Almost spherical raindrops less than 2 mm in
  diameter
• Surface tension squeezes the drop into a
  sphere because
• spheres have the smallest surface area for
  their total volume
• Flattened bottom, rounded top raindrops with
  diameters bigger than 2 mm
• Larger air pressure on the drop as it falls,
  flattens the bottom, while lower
• air pressure on the sides of the drop allows
  the sides to expand

R
http//www.flickr.com/photos/viewthis/521909936/

• Precipitation that falls from clouds toward
  Earths surface
• Rain is an important part of the climate
• The latent heat released into the atmosphere upon
  the formation of raindrops is a significant form
  of energy that drives circulation in the
  atmosphere
• Why do meteorologists, oceanographers, and
  climate scientists find it important to measure
  rainfall patterns?
• Scientists suspect that after rainfall the layers
  of fresh water at the
• surface of the ocean affect circulation in
  the ocean
• Rainfall appears to calm the seas
• Scientists question impact of rainfall on ocean
  damping

1
36
ain
R
http//www.flickr.com/photos/viewthis/521909936/

• Precipitation that falls from clouds toward
  Earths surface
• Rain is an important part of the climate
• The latent heat released into the atmosphere upon
  the formation of raindrops is a significant form
  of energy that drives circulation in the
  atmosphere
• Why do meteorologists, oceanographers, and
  climate scientists find it important to measure
  rainfall patterns?
• Scientists suspect that after rainfall the layers
  of fresh water at the
• surface of the ocean affect circulation in
  the ocean
• Rainfall appears to calm the seas
• Scientists question impact of rainfall on ocean
  damping

37
ea Spray
S

• There are two types
• Film or jet droplets bubbles in the ocean rise
  to the surface and burst, releasing water
  droplets into the air
• Spume droplets the wind is strong enough to
  tear off water particles from the tops of waves

http//www.flickr.com/photos/49827759_at_N00/98131368
/

• How does sea spray impact the earth?
• Once sea spray becomes airborne, the particles
  scatter radiation and transfer heat, momentum,
  and moisture to and from the atmosphere
• If the sea spray evaporates entirely, sea salt
  particles
• are left in the air
• The particles act as nuclei for clouds and fog to
  form
• They impact Earths annual heat budget

38
ea Spray
S

• Extension of Sea Spray
• 1000 micrometers 1 millimeter
• Radius of film or jet droplets ranges from
  approximately 1 to 10
• micrometers
• Radius of spume droplets ranges from
  approximately 10 to 1000
• micrometers

• There are two types
• Film or jet droplets bubbles in the ocean rise
  to the surface and burst, releasing water
  droplets into the air
• Spume droplets the wind is strong enough to
  tear off water particles from the tops of waves

http//www.flickr.com/photos/49827759_at_N00/98131368
/
http//science.nhmccd.edu/biol/dropdrag/superimpos
ed.htm

• How does sea spray impact the earth?
• Once sea spray becomes airborne, the particles
  scatter radiation and transfer heat, momentum,
  and moisture to and from the atmosphere
• If the sea spray evaporates entirely, sea salt
  particles
• are left in the air
• The particles act as nuclei for clouds and fog to
  form
• They impact Earths annual heat budget

39
ea Spray
S

• There are two types
• Film or jet droplets bubbles in the ocean rise
  to the surface and burst, releasing water
  droplets into the air
• Spume droplets the wind is strong enough to
  tear off water particles from the tops of waves

http//www.flickr.com/photos/49827759_at_N00/98131368
/

• How does sea spray impact the earth?
• Once sea spray becomes airborne, the particles
  scatter radiation and transfer heat, momentum,
  and moisture to and from the atmosphere
• If the sea spray evaporates entirely, sea salt
  particles
• are left in the air
• The particles act as nuclei for clouds and fog to
  form
• They impact Earths annual heat budget

40
ides
T

• The regular rise and fall of the ocean waters
• Caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and
  Sun, and the rotation of Earth
• The rising of Earths surface is called high
  tide, or flood tide
• The centrifugal force away from the moon leaves
  the water on the side opposite to the Moon to
  form another high tide
• Low tides, or ebb tides, are the portions of the
  tidal cycle between high tides

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• What impacts the time tides occur each day?
• The combination of Earths rotation and the
  Moons orbit
• If the Moon did not rotate around Earth, the
  tides would
• occur at the same time every day

41
ides
T

• Extension of Tides
• The rise and fall of the tides is periodic
• Periodic occurring in regular cycles
• There are three types of tides
• Semidiurnal Tides
• Produce two high tides and two low
• tides during a 24 hour period (1 day)
• Diurnal Tides
• Produce one high tide and one low
• tide during a 24 hour period (1 day)
• Mixed Tides
• Produce two high tides and two low
• tides during a 24 hour period (1 day)
• There are great differences between the
• heights of the high tides and the low tides
• To the right are tide curves for the three
• common types of tides
• Curves show tidal patterns during a 48 hour
• period (2 days) at various locations around

• The regular rise and fall of the ocean waters
• Caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and
  Sun, and the rotation of Earth
• The rising of Earths surface is called high
  tide, or flood tide
• The centrifugal force away from the moon leaves
  the water on the side opposite to the Moon to
  form another high tide
• Low tides, or ebb tides, are the portions of the
  tidal cycle between high tides

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
4
4

• What impacts the time tides occur each day?
• The combination of Earths rotation and the
  Moons orbit
• If the Moon did not rotate around Earth, the
  tides would
• occur at the same time every day

4
42
ides
T

• The regular rise and fall of the ocean waters
• Caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and
  Sun, and the rotation of Earth
• The rising of Earths surface is called high
  tide, or flood tide
• The centrifugal force away from the moon leaves
  the water on the side opposite to the Moon to
  form another high tide
• Low tides, or ebb tides, are the portions of the
  tidal cycle between high tides

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• What impacts the time tides occur each day?
• The combination of Earths rotation and the
  Moons orbit
• If the Moon did not rotate around Earth, the
  tides would
• occur at the same time every day

43
pwelling
U

• Vertical movement of water from
• the ocean floor up to the surface

• Coastal Upwelling - occurs when winds blow with
  the shore on the left
• Surface water is pushed away from the beach and
  deep, nutrient-rich, cold ocean water rises in
  its place
• Coastal Downwelling - when winds blow with the
  shore on the right
• Surface water is pushed toward the beach, forced
  downward, and then out to sea

• Northern Hemisphere ocean water moves 90 to
  right of wind
• Southern Hemisphere ocean water moves 90 to
  left of wind

44
ector Wind Stress
V

• The horizontal force per area of wind on the
  ocean surface
• Vector wind stress impacts
• Generation of waves
• Movement of surface currents
• How does vector wind stress impact air-sea
  interaction?
• Through wind stress the atmosphere is able to
  transfer momentum to the ocean

http//www.pfeg.noaa.gov/products/las/sample_gifs.
html
45
aves
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
W

• As wind passes over the water, friction between
  the air and the water causes the water to ripple
• Characteristics of waves
• Period time for two crests or troughs to pass a
  point
• Wave frequency number of waves that pass a
  point in one second
• What determines the size of waves?
• How fast the wind is blowing
• How far the wind blows
• How long the wind blows

20
46
aves
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
W

• Extension of Waves
• As a wave passes, water particles lift up,
  move
• forward with the waves crest, and then
  sink down
• and move backward with the waves trough
• When water particles in the trough hit the
  sand,
  
• friction causes them to slow down, but the
  water
• particles in the crest do not slow down
• When the water in the crest gets too far ahead
  
• for the trough to be able to support it, a
  breaker
• forms, which is a wave where the crest
  crashes
• on top of the trough

• As wind passes over the water, friction between
  the air and the water causes the water to ripple
• Characteristics of waves
• Period time for two crests or troughs to pass a
  point
• Wave frequency number of waves that pass a
  point in one second
• What determines the size of waves?
• How fast the wind is blowing
• How far the wind blows
• How long the wind blows

20
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
20
47
aves
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
W

• As wind passes over the water, friction between
  the air and the water causes the water to ripple
• Characteristics of waves
• Period time for two crests or troughs to pass a
  point
• Wave frequency number of waves that pass a
  point in one second
• What determines the size of waves?
• How fast the wind is blowing
• How far the wind blows
• How long the wind blows

20
48
Heat Flu
X
Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• The passing of heat through
• or across a surface
• The heat flux within shallow
• layers is much greater than
• within deep layers of the
• ocean

The mean annual radiation and heat balance of
Earth

• Example of the importance
• of heat flux to Earth
• Earth must maintain an
• annual balance between the
• amount of heat absorbed by
• its surface and released
• back into the atmosphere

16
W m-2 (watts per square meter) is the unit used
to represent the power per square area that comes
from the sun
49
Oceanograph
Y

• Scientific study and exploration of the oceans
• Dependent on physics, chemistry, biology,
  geology, and meteorology
• Covers a wide range of topics
• currents, waves, tides, marine organisms, ocean
  floor, etc.
• Oceanographers must be able to apply knowledge
  from various branches of study to truly
  understand and be able to explain the behavior of
  the ocean environment

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art

• Is there more than one type of oceanography?
• Yes
• Biological oceanography (Marine biology)
  study of marine
• plants and animals
• Chemical oceanography study of the chemistry
  of the ocean
• and ocean floor
• Geological oceanography study of the ocean
  floor
• Physical oceanography study of ocean
  processes and air-sea
• interactions

Image from Microsoft Office Clip Art
50
ooplankton
Z

• Micro- or macroscopic animals that drift in the
  ocean
• Zooplankton can live at any ocean depth
• In comparison to any other animal, zooplankton
  have the greatest quantity spread over the
  largest area
• Typically found near large quantities of
  phytoplankton
• Concentrated in areas of upwelling

• Why are zooplankton important?
• They are a stable source of food
• for many larger animals

51
References

• 1. Ahrens, C. D. (2005). Essentials of
  Meteorology An Invitation to the Atmosphere (4th
  ed.). California Thomson.
• 2. Feldman, J. C. Ocean Planet Oceanographic
  Facts. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved July
  13, 2007, fromhttp//seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_
  PLANET/HTML/education_ oceanographic_facts.html
• 3. Greely, T. (1998, Fall). Lesson 1 Why are the
  Oceans Important? Project Oceanography.
  Retrieved July 13, 2007, from http//www.marine.u
  sf.edu/pjocean/packets/
• 4. Groves, D. (1989). The Oceans A Book of
  Questions and Answers. New York John Wiley
  Sons, Inc.
• 5. Herring, D. Ocean Climate Physical Coupling
  with the Atmosphere. NASA. Retrieved June 7,
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  y/OceanClimate/ocean- atmos_phys.html.
• 6. Hutchinson, S. Hawkins, L. E. (2005).
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• 7. Kawasaki, K. (2006, September 5). Mapping the
  Oceans. NASA. Retrieved June 7, 2007, from
  http//sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/education/jason-game/
  game-mapping-oceans.pdf
• 8. Kawasaki, K. (2006, September 5). See How
  Winds Drive Ocean Currents. NASA. Retrieved June
  7, 2007, from http//sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/educati
  on/jason- game/game-activity2.pdf
• 9. Looking at the Sea Physical Features of the
  Ocean. (1998). Science Learning Network.
  Retrieved June 7, 2007, from http//www.mos.org/o
  ceans/planet/features.html
• 10. Looking at the Sea The Water Cycle. (1998).
  Science Learning Network. Retrieved June 7,
  2007, from http//www.mos.org/oceans/planet/cycle.
  html

52
Extension of References

• 11. Mueller, J. A. Veron, F. (2006). A
  LaGrangian Turbulent Transport Model of Evolving
  Sea-Spray Droplets over the Ocean. AMS 14th
  Conference on Interaction of the Sea and
  Atmosphere. (Vol. P4.3)
• 12. Niller, P. (1993). Gulf Stream. In The World
  Book Encyclopedia (Vol. 8, pp. 462-463).
  Chicago World Book, Inc.
• 13. Nystuen, J. (2000, June 14). Listening to
  Raindrops Using Underwater Microphones to
  Measure Ocean Rainfall. NASA. Retrieved June 7,
  2007, from http//earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study
  /Rain/
• 14. Ocean in Motion. (2004, April 7). Office of
  Naval Research. Retrieved June 8, 2007, from
  http//www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/default.htm
• 15. Program 1 The Who? What? Where? How? And
  Whys? of Plankton. (1997, Fall). Project
  Oceanography. Retrieved July 13, 2007, from
  http//www.marine.usf.edu/ pjocean/packets/
• 16. Sample, S. (2005, June 21). Climate
  Variability. NASA. Retrieved June 8, 2007, from
  http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/system/climate.
  html
• 17. Sample, S. (2005, June 21). Sea Surface
  Temperature. NASA. Retrieved June 26, 2007, from
  http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/physical/SST.htm
  l
• 18. Sample, S. (2005, June 21). The Water Cycle.
  NASA. Retrieved June 8, 2007, from
  http//science.hq.nasa.gov/oceans/system/water.ht
  ml
• 19. Stewart, R. H. (2005). An Introduction to
  Physical Oceanography. Texas Texas A M
  University.
• 20. Stull, R.B. (1988). An Introduction to
  Boundary Layer Meteorology. In Atmospheric
  Sciences Library (Vol. 13). Massachusetts
  Kluwer Academic Publishers.

53
Extension of References

• 21. Tarbuck, E. J. Lutgens, F. K. (2003). Earth
  Science (10th ed.). New Jersey Pearson
  Education.
• 22. The Living Sea. (1998). Science Learning
  Network. Retrieved June 7, 2007, from
  http//www.mos.org/oceans/life/index.html
• 23. VanCleave, J. (1996). Oceans for Every Kid
  Easy Activities that Make Learning Science Fun.
  New York John Wiley Sons, Inc.
• 24. Water on the Move Current Events. (1998).
  Science Learning Network. Retrieved June 7,
  2007, from http//www.mos.org/oceans/motion/curren
  ts.html
• 25. Water on the Move Wind and Waves. (1998).
  Science Learning Network. Retrieved June 7,
  2007, from http//www.mos.org/oceans/motion/wind.h
  tml

LEEANNE HAZZARD is a senior at Elizabethtown
College, where she is working on her Secondary
Mathematics certification. Leeanne created this
ABCs to Oceanography booklet as part of the
Oceanography Outreach Project she designed during
a REU Summer Internship.
Created by Leeanne Hazzard Fabrice Veron,
2007 Air-Sea Interaction Laboratory College of
Marine and Earth Studies University of Delaware