Sonjia Leyva - Oceanography Lecture Study Guide

DISCLAIMER: This is a study guide ONLY! Some of these concepts may appear on the test, some may not, and some concepts may be on the test that are not included here. Refer to your syllabus to know which chapters you will need to know for each exam! Please read the appropriate chapters in your text and review your lecture notes. You may also want to check out your textbook's website.

Origins

Identify characteristics and geographic features of Earth's four (+1) principal oceans.
Understand differences between an ocean and a sea.
Explain the steps involved in the scientific method, including the difference between observation, hypothesis, scientific theory, and fact.
Briefly explain the origin of the solar system using the nebular hypothesis.
Discuss the origin of the atmosphere and oceans, including the dynamics of ocean salinity over time and the changes to atmospheric oxygen levels.
Be able to explain how our planet formed, and what density stratification is

History of Oceanography

Summarize the early history of ocean exploration
Understand the importance of the Library of Alexandria on the development of oceanography and world knowledge.
Realize details of how technology has played a role in exploration and understanding the oceans.

Plate Tectonics

Know the difference between a P and an S wave. Be able to identify which is which based upon a written description and a picture, and some of their properties
Know the layers of the Earth, both by composition (core, mantle, crust) and physical properties (inner core, outer core, mesosphere, asthenosphere and lithosphere), and be able to identify which is which based upon a written description and a picture
Know what continental crust is and what type of rock is compositionaly similar to
Know what basaltic crust is and what type of rock is compositionaly similar to
Know what continental drift is and some of the peices of evidence for it
Know what paleomagnetism is
Know what the theory of plate tectonics is
Be able to name and identify the three types of plate boundaries and be able to give an example of each (a geographic place, for example, not a definition - ie, divergent boundary = Mid Atlantic Ridge)
Know which plate CSULA/PCC is on (hint: it's NOT the North American Plate!)
Be able to name and identify the three types of convergent plate boundaries.
Know what a hot spot is and how they form

Features of the Sea Floor

Be able to describe and identify the major features of active and passive continental margins.
Know what type of margin Southern California has, and some of the features found on our margin.
Understand how submarine canyons form, and the role turbidites play in their formation
Know the features of the deep sea floor.
Be familiar with the dynamics of subduction zones and associated deep-sea trenches.
Understand differences between transform faults and fracture zones.

Marine Sediments

Describe the four main types of marine sediment and recognize examples of each.
Realize how the type of sediment relates to how and where it forms.
Indicate the types of marine sediment that comprise coastal and deep-sea deposits.
Compare the characteristics of siliceous and calcareous oozes.
Understand the concept of the CCD (carbonate compensation depth) and how it governs the distribution of calcium carbonate on the sea floor.
Discuss the significance of the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) impact event.
Identify the types of resources that ocean sediments provide.

Seawater

Know what heat capacity is
Understand the water molecule and it's properties
Know what salinity is, and which ions are found in sea water
Know what is the average salinity of the world's oceans
Understand the concept of residence time
Know the following: thermocline, pycnocline, halocline
Understand the physical and biological factors that affect O₂ and CO₂ levels in the ocean
Know what the photic zone is and the average depth
Understand how light penetrates the ocean, including the maxium depth of light penetration
Know the factors that influence light penetration

Atmospheric Circulation

Understand the properties of the atmosphere and how air circulates
Be able to describe the movements of air associated with the two types of pressure centers.
Understand how latitude affects the amount of solar energy recieved
Know what the Coriolis effect is, and what it does to air and water circulation pattersn
Know what land and sea breezes are and how they form
Understand how cylclones and anticyclones form
Understand how and where extratropical and tropical cyclones form
Know were the following wind patterns are located: Easterlies, westerlies, doldrums and Horse latitudes
Be able to locate all of the items on this image
Know what a hurricane is, what it's function is, how they form, and where they occur
Describe the cause of Earth's greenhouse effect and why it has increased in the recent past.

Oceanic Circulation

Understand how gyres form and their function in the ocean
Understand what deep-ocean circulation is and its function
Know: Downwelling, upwelling, Ekman transport
Identify various causes of upwelling and downwelling and how they affect the abundance of marine life.
Know what the normal and El Niño conditions are in the Pacific Ocean
Know which currents belong to are Western Boundary Currents, which are Eastern Boundary Currents, and which are transverse currents.
Describe the origin and effects of thermohaline (deep-water) circulation.
Integrate knowledge of weather and climate with an understanding and realization of the importance of ocean currents.

Waves

Know the parts of a wave
know: seiche, tsunami, storm surge, deep and shallow water waves, constructive and destructive interference
Know how waves form and the parts of a wave
Understand the effect waves have on a coastline
Know what a tsunami is, how they form, and what can be done to inform the public about the danger they pose.

Tides

Know what causes the tides.
Differentiate between a lunar day and a solar day.
Understand why the Moon has a greater influence on the tides than the Sun.
Explain the monthly tidal cycle in terms of Earth-Moon-Sun positions and the resulting tidal conditions on Earth.
Know the difference between diurnal, semidiurnal, and mixed tidal patterns and be able to indicate where each is found in North America.
Understand the oceanographic conditions that create the world's largest tidal range in the Bay of Fundy.
Know the different types of tidal currents and describe their effects.

Coastal Processes

Know what a beach is and the parts of the beach (see image)
Understand why summer and winter beaches occur
Know: coastal cells, rip currents, longshore current and longshore drift
Know how to classify beaches
Know what the primary source(s) of beach sand is/are
Understand that beaches are comprised of eroded matterials that originate from the region surrounding them
Geol 12 students: understand the orgins of the beach sediment studied in class.
Know what beach erosion is and the steps that have been taken to try to reduce it
Understand the differences between active and passive coastlines, where they occur, some of the features and some of the problems each faces

The Coastal Ocean

Explain the differences between the coastal and open ocean in terms of salinity, temperature, and currents.
Indicate the origin of estuaries and compare the four major classes of estuaries.
Discuss the four types of estuary mixing patterns.
Describe the types, characteristics, and importance of coastal wetlands.
Understand the circulation pattern in the Mediterranean Sea and why it is considered unusual.
Define marine pollution.
Identify some of the common types, causes, and environmental effects of coastal pollution.

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