The oceans cover 71% of our planet and drive global climate patterns, and this deck of 20 flashcards explores the geography beneath the waves. You'll start with the five oceans and key features like the continental shelf and the Mariana Trench, then move into...
The oceans cover 71% of our planet and drive global climate patterns, and this deck of 20 flashcards explores the geography beneath the waves. You'll start with the five oceans and key features like the continental shelf and the Mariana Trench, then move into ocean currents — including the difference between wind-driven surface currents and density-driven thermohaline circulation, the Gulf Stream, and the El Niño/La Niña climate cycles. The deck also covers coastal processes such as longshore drift, tides, estuaries and deltas, plus marine ecosystems including coral reefs and the deep abyssal zone, finishing with ocean acidification and marine biodiversity hotspots. Suited to GCSE, A-Level and AP Human/Physical Geography, this deck connects the physical processes shaping our oceans to the climate and ecosystem topics they're most often tested alongside.
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Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic), and Arctic.
The Pacific Ocean, also home to the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench (~11,000m).
A continuous, directed movement of seawater driven by wind, temperature and salinity differences, and Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect).
Surface currents are wind-driven and occur in the upper ocean. Deep currents are density-driven (thermohaline circulation), moving colder, saltier, denser water.
A global "conveyor belt" of ocean circulation driven by differences in water temperature and salinity, redistributing heat around the planet.
A powerful warm ocean current flowing from the Gulf of Mexico along the US east coast toward Europe, moderating the climate of Western Europe.
A periodic warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, disrupting normal weather patterns globally.
The opposite phase of El Niño, involving cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific.
The gently sloping, shallow seabed extending from a continent's coastline before dropping steeply into the deep ocean (continental slope).
A structure built by colonies of coral polyps, typically forming in warm, shallow, clear tropical waters.
The area of coastline between the high tide and low tide marks, exposed to air at low tide and submerged at high tide.
The gravitational pull of the moon (primarily) and the sun on Earth's oceans, combined with Earth's rotation.
Spring tides (higher highs, lower lows) occur when the sun, moon and Earth align (full/new moon). Neap tides (smaller range) occur when the sun and moon are at right angles.
The movement of sediment along a coastline caused by waves approaching at an angle, transporting material in a zigzag pattern.
A partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the sea.
A landform created when a river deposits sediment as it enters a slower-moving body of water, often forming a fan-shaped or triangular area.
The decreasing pH of ocean water, primarily driven by absorption of excess atmospheric CO2 from fossil fuel combustion.
The deep ocean zone (roughly 4,000–6,000m), characterised by complete darkness, near-freezing temperatures and immense pressure.
Approximately 71%.
A region with an exceptionally high concentration of marine species, such as the Coral Triangle in Southeast Asia.
