The Salt Water Biome Nora Houseknecht Emily Raviele Marissa Graham Anna Cameselle Rachel Rossello

Ocean Water Earth's oceans- 324 mil cubic miles of seawater (71% of Earths surface)  53 mil bil tons of salts/gases/other substances Varies in- temp, pressure, oxygen & light Fact: about 97%  of the earth's water is in interconnected oceans Ocean water:  Earth's oceans- 324 mil cubic miles of seawater 53 mil bil tons of salts/gases/other substances Varies in- temp, pressure, oxygen, light

Sunlight provides necessary energy for currents sunlight penetrates upper 200m  dissolved oxygen levels higher near surface Why is sunlight important to the ocean?   provides necessary energy for currents  conversion of energy into heat helps form layer of warm water near surface  transmission of light is essential to salt water productivity  phytoplankton produces roughly half the oxygen in our air   if water were not relatively transparent to light, ocean would be a large dead zone decreasing ozone levels in atmosphere = higher levels of UV

Nutrients -biologically important ions   -where rivers meet oceans (brackish water)      1. principle supply from rivers -critical for cell growth = nitrogen & phosphorus - building shells and skeletons = silicon & calcium  -fertilizers, detergents and human/animal waste are pollutants     1. lead to hypoxia/ algae blooms -bio-degradation & bacteria recycling  -tropics: nutrients are limited -secret to wetland productivity: a complimentary mix

What is upwelling? In open ocean nutrients often are in short supply and limit net primary productivity (NPP).  NPP is much higher in parts of ocean where upwelling occurs

Human Impact 5 potential sources of marine pollution  land based activities account for about 90%  other 4 causes of pollution: vessels continental shelf drilling deep-seabed mining ocean mining

Human Impact Oil leaks and spills Industrial and nuclear waste Surface run off

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Circulation and Climate Constantly in motion Currents maintained by: solar heating of atmosphere prevailing winds Earth's rotation temp and salinity of surface waters

Ocean Winds Patterns of winds Coriolis effect Prevailing Winds  Produced by pressure differences Trade winds- tropics and subtropics- air movements toward equator in Hadley cells- deflected westward pattern of winds : modified by linked areas- low and high pressure (cyclones and anticyclones) coriolis effect: caused by Earth's spin atmos. cells --> air moves north to sout

Currents

Meeting of Currents Warm and cold currents Triggers upward flow of nutrient-rich waters from sea floor Produces good feeding grounds for fish, sea birds and mammals Boundary Currents  Currents at edges of gyres West- strong, narrow and warm - move heat away from equator Gulf Stream and Brazil Current East- weak, broad and cold - Warm and cold currents- meet and interact - Ex: meeting of Gulf Stream with Labrador Current (off eastern seaboard of US and Canada)

Water Circulation Underwater Circulation Vertical from water surface  upwelling and downwelling Deep Water Circulation  Driven by major downwelling zones  north atlantic sinks- properties stay stable for long time specific mass of seawater- 1,000 yrs to complete circuit

Tide Pools Areas on rocks by the ocean that are filled with sea water Vary in size Source of food and oxygen for organisms

Salinity 96.5% water 3.5% dissolved substances Waters enters sea from rain, inflow from streams, groundwater  types of organisms found are determined by salinity Weathering Hydrothermal vents The Dead Sea

Tropical Reefs and their importance Control erosion of shorelines  Provide food and habitat for fish and organisms Considered a "hotspot" for marine biodiversity helpful: - they control the erosion of shorelines. - provide a source of food for local fish and make up as much as 25% of their dietary protein.   important because: - considered a hot spot for marine biodiversity. Found: - In shallow tropical waters where it is warm and the sun can easily reach it to perform photosynthesis.

Tropical Reefs How they are formed: built up slowly by algae and corals which leave behind calcified deposits Destruction of reefs caused by: human and natural effects- Hurricanes, poor fishing practices, polluted waters, warming waters that weaken and bleach corals

Hurricanes 3 Conditions necessary for a hurricane to form: Warm ocean water near surface Moisture from water evaporation to mix with heat and energy Wind pattern near ocean surface  Another factor that adds to the     power of a hurricane are      thunderstorms. How hurricanes are created:   The following 3 conditions are necessary for a hurricane to form: - the ocean waters must be warm enough at the surface to put enough heat and moisture into the overlying atmosphere to provide the potential fuel for the hurricane. - atmospheric moisture from sea water evaporation must combine with that heat and energy - a wind pattern must be near the ocean surface to spirals air inward. - Bands of thunderstorms form, allowing the air to warm further and rise higher into the atmosphere. If the winds at these higher levels are relatively light, this structure can remain intact and grow stronger

Works Cited Picture of salt water intrusion: ofhttp://callisto.ggsrv.com/imgsrv/FastFetch/UBER1/00032096A003-T2 Salt water intrusion, 2010   Picture on title slide: NASA'S SOLO-TREC Draws Free Energy from the Ocean http://breakthematrix.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/normal_Ocean_Wave.jpg 2005 Ocean winds, currents and pictures: Ocean- The World's Last Wilderness Revealed- 2006- American Museum of Natural History Coral reefs: NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program- Value of Coral Reef ecosystems (10/18/11) http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/values/ RIT libraries- Tropical Coral Reefs (10/18/11) http://library.rit.edu/about/our-reef-aquarium/tropical-coral-reefs/tropical-coral-reefs.html

Works Cited Cont.  http://files.myopera.com/nielsol/blog/Benguela_upwelling.gif http://lightonthepage.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/sunlight_deep_ocean_kan1.jpg http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/ http://www.defenders.org/resources/publications/policy_and_legislation/impacts_of_outer_continental_shelf_drilling.pdf http://w3.shorecrest.org/~Lisa_Peck/MarineBio/syllabus/ch11_ecosystems/ecosystem_wp/Rockyshores_jake_ashleyh/3tidepool.jpg http://www.utdallas.edu/~pujana/oceans/why.html http://gomyclass.com/geology10/files/lecture6/html/images/objects/obj18-2.jpg http://allwellness.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dead-sea.jpg http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/norma/otdpls.htm