ENV100Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Exclusive Economic Zone, Nutrient Pollution, Benthic Zone

• School: UTM
• Department: Environment
• Course: ENV100Y5
• Professor: Hevalkaand Murck

Document Summary

Env100: module 4 session 40 & 41 (oceans) Mean depth ~ 3. 8 km (absolute darkness) Oxygen (photosynthesis, bacterial metabolism & atmospheric diffusion) Surface water heated by solar energy; colder, saltier water is denser and sinks. Warmed by sunlight and stirred by wind; low water density. Some ocean zones support more life than others . Pelagic zone = water, habitats, and ecosystems occurring between the ocean"s surface and floor. Benthic zone = habitats and ecosystems occurring on the ocean floor. Littoral zone = habitats and ecosystems occurring in coastal areas (intertidal zone) Neritic zone = between littoral and continental shelf. Intertidal organisms are adapted to being sometimes submerged and sometimes exposed. The ocean interacts with the atmosphere in complex ways . Water has high specific heat (capacity for storing heat energy); takes a lot of energy to change water temperature. Oceans absorb heat in summer; release in winter.