Barrier island 1970-01-01
A barrier island is a coastal landform that is typically a narrow strip of land situated parallel to the mainland coast, separated from it by a lagoon, bay, or estuary. These islands serve several important ecological and protective functions: 1. **Protection**: Barrier islands act as a buffer against storm surges and high waves, protecting the mainland from coastal erosion and flooding during severe weather events, such as hurricanes.
Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study 1970-01-01
The Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) is a long-term oceanographic research program that has been monitoring the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the ocean in the Sargasso Sea, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, near Bermuda. The study began in 1988 and aims to provide valuable insights into ocean circulation, climatic variability, and marine ecosystems.
Biogeography 1970-01-01
Biogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of living organisms, both plants and animals, across different regions of the world and the factors that influence these distributions. It combines aspects of biology, ecology, geography, and geology to understand how species and ecosystems are distributed in space and time. Key aspects of biogeography include: 1. **Species Distribution**: Understanding where different species are found and the ecological and evolutionary reasons behind these patterns.
Bioturbation 1970-01-01
Bioturbation refers to the process by which organisms rework and disturb sediment or soil through their activities. This phenomenon is commonly observed in various environments, particularly in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. In marine environments, organisms such as burrowing worms, crustaceans, and mollusks disturb the seafloor, altering sediment structure and composition. In terrestrial ecosystems, earthworms, insects, and other organisms mix and aerate soil, which can enhance nutrient cycling and influence plant growth.
Black Sea undersea river 1970-01-01
The Black Sea undersea river is a unique underwater feature located in the Black Sea that is characterized by the presence of a submerged river system. It was first discovered in the late 1990s and is notable for its distinct characteristics, including a significant flow of freshwater and sediment being transported on the seabed, resembling a river. This underwater river is formed by dense, cold water that flows along the seafloor, creating a river-like channel as it moves.
Boundary current 1970-01-01
Boundary currents are ocean currents that flow along the edges of ocean basins, typically along continental margins. They are generally influenced by factors such as the Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), wind patterns, temperature and salinity gradients, and the shape of the coastline. There are two main types of boundary currents: 1. **Western Boundary Currents**: These currents flow along the western edges of ocean basins and are typically characterized by being warm, fast, and narrow.
Chemocline 1970-01-01
A chemocline is a layer in a body of water where there is a rapid change in chemical properties, particularly the concentration of substances such as nutrients, dissolved oxygen, or salinity. This concept is often associated with the vertical structure of lakes or oceans. In aquatic systems, the chemocline typically separates different water masses, often correlating with other physical gradients, such as temperature (thermocline) or salinity (halocline).
Coastal morphodynamics 1970-01-01
Coastal morphodynamics is the study of the processes and interactions that shape coastal landforms and environments over time. It combines aspects of geology, oceanography, sedimentology, and environmental science to understand how various factors influence coastal landscapes, including waves, tides, currents, and human activities. Key elements of coastal morphodynamics include: 1. **Sediment Transport**: The movement of sediments along the coast due to wave action, currents, and wind.
Coastal upwelling of the South Eastern Arabian Sea 1970-01-01
Coastal upwelling in the South Eastern Arabian Sea is a phenomenon characterized by the rising of deeper, colder, and nutrient-rich water to the surface along the coast. This process is driven primarily by wind patterns and ocean currents. Here's a more detailed explanation of the dynamics and significance of this phenomenon: ### Mechanism of Upwelling 1. **Wind Patterns**: The South Eastern Arabian Sea is affected by the monsoon winds, particularly during the southwest monsoon season (June to September).
Cold core ring 1970-01-01
A cold core ring is a type of oceanic eddy characterized by its cold, dense water at its center, which is surrounded by warmer water. These features typically form in oceanic regions, often in response to the dynamics of ocean currents and temperature gradients. Cold core rings are commonly associated with the North Atlantic Ocean, particularly near the Gulf Stream, where they can separate from the main current and become isolated entities that drift in the surrounding waters.
Conservative temperature 1970-01-01
Conservative temperature is a thermodynamic property used in oceanography and marine sciences to quantify the thermal state of seawater while accounting for the effects of pressure and salinity. Unlike traditional temperature measurements, which typically reflect the specific energy content of water, conservative temperature provides a measure that is more related to the potential temperature available to the water when it is brought to the surface under the same pressure conditions.
Continental shelf 1970-01-01
The continental shelf is a submerged extension of a continent, characterized by shallow waters surrounding the coast. It generally extends from the shoreline to the continental slope, where the seabed drops off to deeper oceanic depths. The continental shelf typically has a gentle slope and is rich in marine resources, including fish, oil, gas, and minerals.
Coriolis (project) 1970-01-01
Coriolis is a project aimed at providing a framework for building and managing cloud-native applications. It is particularly focused on creating an open-source platform that allows for the orchestration of services and the management of containerized applications in a cloud environment. The project typically emphasizes the use of microservices architecture, enabling developers to deploy and scale applications efficiently across multiple cloud environments. The Coriolis project often includes features such as service discovery, load balancing, and integration with existing cloud services.
Current meter 1970-01-01
A current meter is an instrument used to measure the flow of electric current in a circuit. It typically provides a reading of current in amperes (A) and is an essential tool in electrical engineering, electronics, and related fields. There are various types of current meters, including: 1. **Analog Current Meters**: These use a moving-coil mechanism to provide a reading on a dial. The deflection of the needle on the dial is proportional to the current flowing through the meter.
Cuspate foreland 1970-01-01
A cuspate foreland is a coastal landform that protrudes into the sea, typically characterized by a pointed or triangular shape. It usually forms at the mouth of a river or where two opposing currents meet, leading to the accumulation of sediment due to the processes of erosion and deposition. The formation of cuspate forelands is influenced by various factors, including wave action, tidal currents, and the availability of sediment.
Darwin Mounds 1970-01-01
Darwin Mounds is a significant underwater feature located in the North Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is classified as a deep-sea coral reef and is part of a larger area known for its biodiversity and unique geological formations. The mounds are composed primarily of cold-water corals, particularly species such as Lophelia pertusa, and are known for hosting a variety of marine life, including various fish species and invertebrates.
Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis 1970-01-01
The Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) program is a system developed to monitor and report on tsunami activity in the world's oceans. It was established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States and is primarily aimed at improving the detection of tsunamis and providing real-time data to enhance tsunami warning capabilities.
Density ratio 1970-01-01
The density ratio typically refers to the ratio of two densities. In different contexts, it can have specific meanings. Here are a few interpretations: 1. **Physics and Engineering**: In fluids or gases, the density ratio might refer to the ratio of the density of one substance to that of another. For example, when comparing the density of a gas at different temperatures or pressures, the density ratio can help understand how changes in conditions affect the gas.
Dispersion (water waves) 1970-01-01
Dispersion in the context of water waves refers to the phenomenon where waves of different wavelengths (or frequencies) travel at different speeds. This results in the separation or spreading out of wave components over time. Water waves can be classified into two main categories: deep water waves and shallow water waves, and dispersion behaves differently in each case. ### Deep Water Waves In deep water, waves are primarily influenced by gravity and surface tension.
Double diffusive convection 1970-01-01
Double diffusive convection is a physical phenomenon that occurs in fluid systems when two different solutes or properties (such as temperature and concentration) are present, leading to buoyancy-driven flow due to the combined effects of thermal and solutal (concentration-related) gradients. This type of convection is particularly relevant in scenarios where light and heavy solutes or varying temperatures influence the fluid's density differently.