Vocabulary

Coriolis Effect - the apparent force, caused by the earth's rotation, which causes the deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere of moving objects, such as air and surface ocean waters

Ekman Spiral - in a theoretical ocean of infinite depth, unlimited extent and uniform viscosity, with a steady wind blowing over the surface, the surface water moves 45 degrees to the right of the wind in the Northern Hemisphere. At greater depths the the water moves further to the right with decreased speed, until at some depth (Ekman depth - approximately 100 m) the water moves opposite the wind direction. Net water transport is 90 degrees to the right of the wind in the Northern Hemisphere and movement is to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Friction - resistance of a surface to the motion of a body moving along that surface

Latitude - position north or south of the equator in degrees

Nutrients - inorganic or organic compouds, or ions used in the nutrition of primary producers (ie. nitrogen and phosphorus compounds)

Photosynthesis - manufacture by plants of organic substances and release of oxygen from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight and the green pigment chlorophyll

Phytoplankton - microscopic plant organisms.

Trophic levels - the position of an organism in a food chain or pyramid

Trophic transfer - the transfer of energy in a food chain or pyramid

Upwelling - rising of water to surface: a process in which cold nutrient-rich water rises to the surface from the ocean depths