Earth Science 2

Name: Fiona Hebbel
Date:
Graded Assignment
Unit Test: Oceans
Answer the questions below. When you are finished, submit this assignment to your teacher by the due date for full credit.
(6 points)
1. Use the graph to fill in the missing temperature, salinity, and density values on the table.

Answer:
Position
Temperature
(oC)
Salinity
(ppt)
Density
(g/cm3)
A
20
35
1.024
B
25
34
1.023
C
15
35
1.026
(10 points)
2. Use the reference book to answer the following questions. Provide an explanation for the answers.
a. In which zone can rooted plants be expected to be found attached to the seafloor? What is the name of this zone, and why are plants found there?
Answer: Plants can be expected to found on the seafloor in the sub littoral zone. That environment allows the plants to make food by photosynthesis, because it is in a depth of about 200m, so the sunlight still can reach the bottom of the ocean floor and is not fully absorbed. The sub littoral zone is located between the shoreline and the continental shelf. Both salinity and temperature mostly stay the same.

b. In which zone are turbidity currents found? What are these currents, how do they flow, and what causes them?
Answer: Turbidity currents can be found in submarine canyons, continental slopes and in zones where no seismic stability is found. Turbidity currents are containing particles that make water denser and cloudy/turbid/dull. Earthquakes cause them for example, which causes sediments to fall down and slide into the water. They flow downwards because of their high density, with the bigger particles being on the bottom of the current and the smaller ones on the top of the current.