Plankton Small, microscopic algae or animals that float in the water. They can’t move on their own – rely on the current to carry them. Food for many organisms. #1 PRODUCER

Nekton Any free swimming (doesn’t rely on the current to move) animal in the Ocean.

Benthos Organisms that live on the ocean floor.

Food Web Feeding relationships in a habitat.

Intertidal Zone Part of the beach that stretches from highest high tide to lowest low tide.

Estuary Where a river empties into the ocean. Mixture of fresh water and salt water. Important breeding ground – the “nursery”

Brackish Water Describes water that is a mixture of salt water and fresh water. Found in estuaries

Turbidity How cloudy or dirty water appears Cloudy water- test with turbidity tube.

Sonar Uses sound waves to calculate the distance to an object.

Upwelling and Downwelling Cycling of nutrients from the cold bottom of the ocean to the warm top. Fish loves this area.

Continental Shelf Extension out of continents edge, gently sloping shallow area.

Continental Slope The Ocean Floor drops off at a steep incline. Intertidal  Continental shelf  Continental Slope

Abyssal Plain Smooth and Flat area of the Ocean Floor.

Deep Ocean Trenches Cut into the abyssal plain This is where subduction takes place and volcanoes and hot spots form.

Mid Ocean Ridge When the sea floor spreads apart, and lava rises to form new mountains.

Seamounts Mountains that are underwater in the ocean This is where upwelling occurs (fish love it here)

Submersible Underwater vehicle built to see ocean floor and resist high water pressure. ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicle) are submarines that are not manned (do not have humans in them)

Currents Warm water comes from the Equator and cold water comes from poles. Gulf Stream is near us (warm)

Rip Current Water breaks through the sandbar, and causes sand to disappear out from under you.