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Temperature and Density Variation With Depth

Pycnocline – abrupt change of density with depth

Thermocline – abrupt change of temperature with depth

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Layered Ocean

Three distinct water masses based on density:

Mixed surface layer – above thermocline Upper water – thermocline and

pycnocline Deep water – below thermocline to ocean

floor High latitude oceans – thermocline and

pycnocline rarely develop Isothermal Isopycnal

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DesalinizationRemoving salt from

seawater Distillation

Most common process

Water boiled and condensed

Solar distillation in arid climates

Electrolysis Electrode-containing

freshwater Membrane between

fresh and salt water tanks

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Desalinization

Reverse osmosis Salt water forced

through membrane into fresh water

Freeze separation Water frozen and

thawed multiple times

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Light Transmission in Ocean Water

Visible light of the electromagnetic spectrum Blue (short) wavelengths penetrate deepest Longer wavelengths (red, orange) absorbed first

Not in notes: write out – Light transmission depends on:

a. Dust and cloud cover.b. Angle of the sun above the horizon.c. The smoothness or roughness of the sea.d. The amount of suspended material in the water.

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Transmission of Light in Seawater

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Color in the Ocean Color of ocean

ranges from deep blue to yellow-green

FactorsTurbidity from

runoffPhotosynthetic

pigment (chlorophyll)

Secchi Disk – measures water transparency