Overview of Earth’s Atmosphere The universe contains billions of galaxies and each galaxy is made up of billions of stars. Stars are hot glowing balls of gas that generate energy by converting hydrogen into helium near their centers. Our sun is an average-sized star situated near the edge of the Milky Way galaxy. Revolving around […]
All waves begin as disturbances, and ocean waves form as the result of a disturbing force. Wave Generation Types of Waves Internal Waves Wave Movement All types of waves transmit energy—or propagate—by means of cyclic movement through matter. The medium itself (solid, liquid, or gas) does not actually travel in the direction of the wave
Ocean currents are either wind-driven or density-driven. Moving air masses—particularly the major wind belts of the world—set wind-driven currents in motion. Wind-driven currents move water horizontally and occur primarily in the ocean’s surface waters, so these currents are called surface currents. Density-driven circulation, on the other hand, moves water vertically and accounts for the thorough
Chapter Overview Atmosphere and Oceans Earth’s Seasons At the vernal equinox (vernus = spring; equi = equal, noct = night), which occurs on or about March 21, the Sun is directly overhead along the equator. During this time, all places in the world experience equal lengths of night and day (hence the name equinox). In
Chapter Overview Water on Earth Atomic Structure Molecules – Two or more atoms held together by shared electrons– Smallest form of a substance Water molecule Hydrogen Bonding Water as Solvent Water’s Thermal Properties Water exists on Earth as a solid, a liquid, and a gas and has the ability to store and release great amounts
Chapter Overview Marine Sediments Classification of Marine Sediments CLASSIFICATION OF MARINE SEDIMENTS Type Composition Sources/Origin Distribution/Main locations where sediment currently forms Lithogenous Continental margin Rock fragments Quartz sand Quartz silt Clay Rivers; coastal erosion; landslides Continental shelf Glaciers Continental shelf in high latitudes Turbidity currents Continental slope and rise; ocean basin margins
Chapter Overview Bathymetry Measuring Bathymetry Modern Bathymetry Measuring GLORIA Side Scanning Sonar Sea Floor Mapping from Space Seismic Reflection Profiles Hypsographic Curve Ocean Provinces Continental Margins Active Continental Margins Continental Margin Features Continental Shelf Continental Slope Submarine Canyons Turbidity Currents Continental Rise Abyssal Plains Abyssal Plain Volcanic Peaks Ocean Trenches and Volcanic Arcs Island and
Chapter Overview Plate Tectonics Evidence for Continental Drift Objections to Early Continental Drift Model Evidence for Plate Tectonics Earth’s Magnetic Pole Magnetic Polarity Reversals Paleomagnetism and the Ocean Floor Sea Floor Spreading Plate Tectonic Processes Sea Floor Spreading Sea Floor Spreading Evidence Age of Ocean Floor Heat Flow Earthquakes as Evidence Global Plate Boundaries Plate
