neritic zone The part of the ocean where the continental shelf gradually slopes outward
from the edge of the continent. Some sunlight can penetrate this region of the ocean.
oceanic zone The open ocean, where the seafloor is deep. No sunlight reaches the floor
of the ocean here.
Pangea The supercontinent that tectonically broke apart about 200 million years ago,
forming the continents and oceans that we see today on Earth.
photic zone The topmost region of the water column, extending from the surface down
to about 200 m in depth. Sunlight easily penetrates this region of the water column.
salinity A measure of the amount of dissolved salt in water.
water column A vertical column of ocean water, which is divided into different zones
according to their depth.
Points to Consider
- What creates the movement of water like tides and waves?
- Is it possible to have a river in the middle of the ocean?
- What other factors affect the movement of ocean water? How do these factors affect
to the world’s climate and the ocean’s ecosystem?
14.2 Ocean Movements
Lesson Objectives
- Define waves and explain their formation.
- Describe what causes tides.
- Describe how surface currents form and how they affect the world’s climate.
- Describe the causes of deep currents.
- Relate upwelling areas to their impact on the food chain.
Introduction
Ocean water is constantly in motion (Figure 14.7). From north to south, east to west,
and up and down the shore, ocean water moves all over the place. These movements can be
explained as the result of many separate forces, including local conditions of wind, water, the
position of the moon and Sun, the rotation of the Earth, and the position of land formations.