Earth Systems, Structures Earth Systems, Structures and Processesand Processes

8.E.1.28.E.1.2Summarize evidence that Earth’s Summarize evidence that Earth’s

oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life minerals, dissolved gases, and life

forms:forms:•EstuariesEstuaries•Marine ecosystemsMarine ecosystems•UpwellingUpwelling•Behavior of gases in the marine Behavior of gases in the marine environmentenvironment•Deep ocean technology and Deep ocean technology and understandings gainedunderstandings gained

Earth’s OceansEarth’s OceansMore than 70% of the Earth’s surface is More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is

covered by ocean water.covered by ocean water.

Most of the ocean floor has not been Most of the ocean floor has not been explored because it is so vast and deep.explored because it is so vast and deep.

There are many similarities in features There are many similarities in features between the ocean floor and land.between the ocean floor and land.

One OceanOne Ocean• Earth’s oceans are often split into 5 Earth’s oceans are often split into 5

different ones:different ones:– AtlanticAtlantic– PacificPacific– IndianIndian– SouthernSouthern– ArcticArctic

• There is actually only one continuous There is actually only one continuous ocean ocean

One OceanOne Ocean•Ocean Basin

– Part of Earth’s surface that is covered by ocean water.

•Pacific is largest and deepest•Arctic is coldest and shallowest

– Mostly covered in ice

Ocean FloorOcean Floor

• Ocean floor includesOcean floor includes– Continental shelfContinental shelf– Continental slopeContinental slope– Mid-ocean ridgeMid-ocean ridge– Rift valleysRift valleys– TrenchesTrenches

Ocean FloorOcean Floor• Most of the ocean is dark, flat area Most of the ocean is dark, flat area

called the Abyssal plaincalled the Abyssal plain• Ocean trench is a large V-shaped valleyOcean trench is a large V-shaped valley• Mid-ocean ridges are underwater Mid-ocean ridges are underwater

mountain rangesmountain ranges– Some of the mountain ranges reach above Some of the mountain ranges reach above

the water to form islands.the water to form islands.•Ocean floor mapping video

Ocean CompositionOcean Composition• Most of the Earth’s water is not Most of the Earth’s water is not

drinkable (potable) because of the salt.drinkable (potable) because of the salt.– Why can’t we drink salt water?

• Even though the ocean is fed by fresh Even though the ocean is fed by fresh water, because of the salt left behind water, because of the salt left behind in evaporation, the fresh water quickly in evaporation, the fresh water quickly becomes salty.becomes salty.

• Underwater volcanoes also add salt.Underwater volcanoes also add salt.– Why is ocean water salty?

Ocean CompositionOcean Composition• SalinitySalinity

– The saltiness of a body of waterThe saltiness of a body of water– In an ocean, it averages about 3.5%In an ocean, it averages about 3.5%

• This means that about 3-4% of the water is made up This means that about 3-4% of the water is made up of dissolved saltof dissolved salt

• Rather than HRather than H22O only for the water, it is actually:O only for the water, it is actually:– HH22O with about 3-4% NaClO with about 3-4% NaCl

– Salinity levels are lower where fresh water Salinity levels are lower where fresh water flows into the ocean and higher where there is flows into the ocean and higher where there is a greater rate of evaporationa greater rate of evaporation• Such as near the EquatorSuch as near the Equator

Ocean as a ResourceOcean as a Resource• The ocean has been used as a source of The ocean has been used as a source of

food for centuries.food for centuries.– Fishing is a major industry in North CarolinaFishing is a major industry in North Carolina

• SwordfishSwordfish• TunaTuna• FlounderFlounder• ShrimpShrimp• CrabCrab• OystersOysters• ScallopsScallops

Ocean as a ResourceOcean as a Resource• Food resources are often threatened Food resources are often threatened

by by pollutionpollution– The release of an unwanted substance The release of an unwanted substance

into the environmentinto the environment– Oil spills

• Taking too many resources before they Taking too many resources before they can reproduces is called can reproduces is called Overfishing

•Sustainable Resources

Marine Ecosystems and Marine Ecosystems and EstuariesEstuaries• Almost half of the known species on Almost half of the known species on

Earth live in the oceanEarth live in the ocean– That number could be greater due to the That number could be greater due to the

vast unknown of the ocean depthsvast unknown of the ocean depths– Ocean Depths

The Ocean’s ProducersThe Ocean’s Producers• MarineMarine ( (OceanOcean) producers are ) producers are

important to all life on Earthimportant to all life on Earth• Main producers are algae and Main producers are algae and

phytoplanktonphytoplankton– They live in the upper regions of the ocean They live in the upper regions of the ocean

and get enough light for photosynthesisand get enough light for photosynthesis•Light can not reach deeper into the ocean so Light can not reach deeper into the ocean so

there are no producers at deeper levels.there are no producers at deeper levels.– Marine food webMarine food web

The Ocean’s ProducersThe Ocean’s Producers• Marine Organisms

– BenthosBenthos• The flora and fauna found on the bottom, or in the The flora and fauna found on the bottom, or in the

bottom sediments, of a sea, lake, or other body of water. bottom sediments, of a sea, lake, or other body of water. – NektonNekton

• Aquatic animals that are able to swim and move Aquatic animals that are able to swim and move independently of water currents independently of water currents

– PlanktonPlankton• Microscopic organisms that float freely with oceanic Microscopic organisms that float freely with oceanic

currents and in other bodies of water.currents and in other bodies of water.• Plankton is made up of Plankton is made up of tiny plantstiny plants (called (called

phytoplanktonphytoplankton) and ) and tiny animalstiny animals (called (called zooplanktonzooplankton). ).

The Ocean’s ProducersThe Ocean’s Producers• Populations of producers can be affected by ocean Populations of producers can be affected by ocean

currentscurrents– Oceanic currents describe the movement of water from Oceanic currents describe the movement of water from

one location to another.one location to another.– Ocean currents are driven by wind, water density Ocean currents are driven by wind, water density

differences, and tides. differences, and tides. – Ocean currents can cause Ocean currents can cause UpwellingsUpwellings

• Carries cold water from the deep in the ocean up the surfaceCarries cold water from the deep in the ocean up the surface • Winds blowing across the ocean surface push water away. Winds blowing across the ocean surface push water away.

Water then rises up from beneath the surface to replace the Water then rises up from beneath the surface to replace the water that was pushed away. water that was pushed away. Upwelling occursUpwelling occurs in the  in the open ocean and along coastlines. open ocean and along coastlines.

– This water is rich in nutrients from the ocean floorThis water is rich in nutrients from the ocean floor– Producers use the nutrients to increase populationsProducers use the nutrients to increase populations

Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems• There are three major ecosystemsThere are three major ecosystems

– The ShoreThe Shore– The Open OceanThe Open Ocean– The Deep OceanThe Deep Ocean

– Really annoying but very informative video!

Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems• The ShoreThe Shore

– The part of the ocean nearest the landThe part of the ocean nearest the land– With shallow water, light can reach the With shallow water, light can reach the

bottom of the oceanbottom of the ocean– Waves create a lot of motion in this area Waves create a lot of motion in this area

moving sand and mudmoving sand and mud– This creates This creates SedimentSediment deposits deposits

• Naturally occurring material that is broken down by Naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is processes of weathering and erosion, and is transported by the action of wind, water, or ice until transported by the action of wind, water, or ice until deposited through gravity. deposited through gravity.

– Tides rise and fall and some creatures Tides rise and fall and some creatures thrive such as clams, mussels and wormsthrive such as clams, mussels and worms

Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems• Photic ZonePhotic Zone

– Surface layer of the ocean that receives Surface layer of the ocean that receives sunlight.sunlight.•Euphotic ZoneEuphotic Zone

– The uppermost 80 m (260 feet) or more of the The uppermost 80 m (260 feet) or more of the ocean, which is sufficiently illuminated to permit ocean, which is sufficiently illuminated to permit photosynthesis by phytoplankton and plantsphotosynthesis by phytoplankton and plants. .

•Ocean Photic Zones Video– (Volume may need to be raised)(Volume may need to be raised)

Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems• The Open OceanThe Open Ocean

– The vast area of top ocean level that The vast area of top ocean level that expands from shore to shoreexpands from shore to shore

– This expands as deep as light is allowed This expands as deep as light is allowed to filter downto filter down•The sun warms the water at these depthsThe sun warms the water at these depths

– Light is bright enough for photosynthesisLight is bright enough for photosynthesis– Some of the organisms that thrive here Some of the organisms that thrive here

are jellyfish, fish and squidare jellyfish, fish and squid

Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems• The Deep OceanThe Deep Ocean

– Thousands of meters below the ocean’s Thousands of meters below the ocean’s surfacesurface•The water is very coldThe water is very cold

– Openings in the ocean floor release heatOpenings in the ocean floor release heat called called Hydrothermal VentsHydrothermal Vents

– Small ecosystems exist around these ventsSmall ecosystems exist around these vents– They rely on organisms called autotrophs that They rely on organisms called autotrophs that

make their own food No light filters down so make their own food No light filters down so photosynthesis can not take placephotosynthesis can not take place

– Because of this, Because of this, Chemosynthesis Chemosynthesis takes placetakes place Process of using energy stored in chemical

bonds instead of sunlight to produce food

Ocean AcifidicationOcean Acifidication• Ocean acidification is the ongoing Ocean acidification is the ongoing

decrease in the decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans,  of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

• Carbonic AcidCarbonic Acid– A chemical compound with the chemical A chemical compound with the chemical

formula H2CO3formula H2CO3– It is also a name sometimes given to solutions It is also a name sometimes given to solutions

of carbon dioxide in water, because such of carbon dioxide in water, because such solutions contain small amounts of solutions contain small amounts of H2CO3H2CO3

– Contributes to the increase in the ocean’s pHContributes to the increase in the ocean’s pH

EstuariesEstuaries• EstuaryEstuary

– A body of water in which freshwater A body of water in which freshwater from a river meets and mixes with salt from a river meets and mixes with salt water from the oceanwater from the ocean

– Known as inlets, bays, harbors, lagoons and sounds•Examples are Boston Harbor, Chesapeake

Bay, Pamlico Sound, and Albemarle Sound– Salinity levels change based upon tides,

wind direction and storms

EstuariesEstuaries• Often protected from ocean waves Often protected from ocean waves

by land features.by land features.– Barrier Islands, Reefs, Sand spitsBarrier Islands, Reefs, Sand spits– Rich in nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and Rich in nutrients, dissolved oxygen, and

mineralsminerals– Can be used a nurseries for many Can be used a nurseries for many

animals including some ocean animals animals including some ocean animals that come to breedthat come to breed

• ReservoirReservoir– A large natural or artificial lake used as A large natural or artificial lake used as

a source of water supply.a source of water supply.

Neuse RiverNeuse River• KayakingKayaking• Lower Neuse River 1Lower Neuse River 1• Lower Neuse River 2Lower Neuse River 2

• Rachel Carson ReserveRachel Carson Reserve