Lesson 7: Ocean Layers II Physical Oceanography

1. Lesson 7: Ocean Layers II Physical Oceanography

2. Last class we learned about salinity • How is salinity measured? • How does salinity affect the density of water? • What other variable affects the density of water?

3. Today we’ll learn more about ocean layers • There are three layers in the ocean • Temperature typically gets colder as you move from the surface of the ocean down through the middle layer of the ocean. • In the very deepest parts of the ocean, temperature and salinity tend to be uniform

4. The ocean has three layers The surface layer is on top, the thermocline in the middle, and the deep ocean on the bottom Temperature (oC) 5 10 20 30 surface 50 thermocline Depth (m) 1000 deep ocean 2000 Let’s take a journey down through the ocean’s layers

5. The depth of each layer can change based on location and season Here, the thermocline ranges from about 50m-1,000m The majority of ocean water (by volume) can be found in the deep ocean below the thermocline Temperature (oC) 5 10 20 30 surface 50 thermocline Depth (m) 1000 deep ocean 2000 Let’s take a journey down through the ocean’s layers

6. The upper surface of the ocean is called the mixed layer Wind and other forces stir or “mix” this upper layer of water to form a relatively constant temperature throughout Depending on weather, season, and latitude, the mixed layer typically ranges from 10 – 200 m in thickness (Mid-Latitudes) We’ll start our journey in the surface layer (also known as the mixed layer) Temperature (oC) 5 10 20 30 mixed 50 Depth (m) thermocline Temperature Profile 1000 deep ocean

7. Let’s move down into the thermocline • The thermocline is a layer of water where temperature changes rapidly with depth • In the thermocline, the water quickly gets colder the deeper you go • This layer separates the warm, surface layer from the cool, deeper waters Temperature (oC) 5 10 20 30 mixed 50 Depth (m) thermocline Temperature Profile 1000 deep ocean

8. Below the thermocline is the deep ocean Water here is cold, dense and salty But here in the deep ocean, salinity and temperature do not change much as we move downward and become nearly constant What happens as we move below the thermocline? Temperature (oC) 5 10 20 30 mixed 50 Depth (m) thermocline Temperature Profile 1000 deep ocean

9. Don’t get confused with “clines” • Remember that thermocline refers to a “gradient” where temperature changes rapidly with depth • At the National Ocean Sciences Bowl, you may see other terms that end with “-cline,” referring to other kinds of gradients • Halocline is an area wheresalinity changes rapidly with depth (halo refers to salt)

10. What is the pycnocline? • Pycnocline refers to an area where density changes rapidly with depth • Seawater density is determined primarily by temperature and salinity, though the influence of temperature is often greater • Just as temperature and salinity influence seawater density, the thermocline and halocline affect the pycnocline • Temperature and salinity tend to remain constant below the pycnocline

11. Student activity Today we’ll graph data to determine how the thermocline changes with latitude and season