MSCI 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Halocline, Pycnocline, Refraction
Document Summary
Ocean stratification: ocean is divided into 3 density zones. Surface zone; upper layer of the ocean ~2% total ocean volume. Pycnocline; density increases with depth ~18% of all ocean water. Deep zone; contains about 80% of all ocean water, little change of density. Isothermal- depths where water is a constant temperature. Isohaline- depths where water has the same salinity. From photosynthesis and dissolved from atmosphere: co2. 60x more in oceans than in air. Is buffered (resists change) by dissolving co2 in water. Scattering: light is bounced between air and water molecules, dust, or other suspended objects. Absorption: light energy is absorbed by suspended material (water, particles) and converted to heat. Light decreases exponentially with depth: absorption is exponential, more absorption in coastal water due to turbidity. Why is water blue: blue is shorter wavelength and scattered and refracted by objects, other longer wavelengths selectively absorbed in top 10-20m red looks grey.
