I. WaterA. The water molecule is composed of 2 Hydrogen

atoms & 1 oxygen atom1. Due to the electronic structure the oxygen atom is

slightly negative while the hydrogen atoms are slightly positive.

B. The charge causes water molecules to be attracted to one another forming hydrogen bonds (cohesion & adhesion)

C. Water is the only compound that is found in all 3 states in nature.

II. Special Properties of WaterA. Due to hydrogen bonds water is the

most dense in its liquid form. Adding salt increases liquid water density1. Explains why ice floats

B. Water has a very high specific heat1. A lot of energy is needed to increase its

temperature by 1°C

C. Water also has a high heat of vaporization.  1. As water vapor moves from warm areas

to cooler regions it changes back to a liquid and may form rain. Releasing heat which warms the air. The enormous amount of energy involved powers the storms and winds on Earth

II. Special Properties of WaterD. Water is a universal solvent

1. Allows the transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and waste materials in water

Now we know a little about water. But where did it all come from?

Possible explanations1. Comets colliding into Earth2. Volcanism

III. Earth’s OceansA. The 3 major oceans (from largest to

smallest) are:1.Pacific (contains half of Earth’s sea water)2. Atlantic 3. Indian

B. The 2 other oceans mostly composed of ice are:1. Arctic2. Antarctic

IV. Sea Water CompositionA. 71% of our Earth is covered by water & 97% of

that water is found in our oceans.

B. The salinity of our oceans is usually 35ppt (parts per thousand) and are usually composed of the same type of salts (mostly sodium chloride)1. Evaporation/Precipitation can effect the salinity

level slightly…WHY?

Osmotic Regulators: Artci Charr Fish & Humpback whales

IV. Sea Water CompositionC. The temperature of sea water varies with the

amount of sun that hits the area (time & angle of sun rays)

Cold blooded: poikilothermic

Warm blooded: homeothermic

IV. Sea Water CompositionD. Temperature, salinity and pressure affect

the density of seawater. Large water masses of different densities are important in the layering of the ocean water 

1. Density is the reason for some of the deep ocean circulation models

IV. Sea Water CompositionE. Dissolved gases & nutrients are found in

different concentrations along our oceans since the amount depends on what marine life is found there. 1. Cold water can have more gases dissolved in itself 2. More nutrients are going to be found in deeper

waters

V. Sea Water MovementA. Oceans are never motionless

1. Waves – the most obvious movement, is a rhythmic movement that carries energy through space & matter

2. Wave height depends on 3 things:1. Wind Speed2. Wind Duration3. Fetch (how much water wind has blown across)

V. Sea Water MovementB. Ocean currents (large mass

of moving water)can be caused by 3 different things:1. Density currents (subsurface)–

caused by differences in temperature & salinity, these move very slowly in deep waters

2. Upwelling – upward motion of cold water to replace misplaced warm surface water

3. Surface currents – caused by global wind systemsa. Move with the major global

wind systems

Earth's surface ocean currents are caused by the winds, continental land mass obstruction and the Coriolis effect

VI. TidesA. The periodic rise & fall

of sea level1. highest level water

reaches is called high-tide, lowest level is called low-tide

B. Tidal range determined by an areas topography & latitude range

VI. TidesC. The gravitational attraction between Earth, Moon

& Sun and the fact that gravitational attraction decreases with distance are the basic causes of tides

D. The fact that Earth & the Moon orbit around a common center of gravity causes tidal bulges since they both experience differing gravitational forces due to their size Think of a coffee cup in a car when you turn

VI. TidesE. The gravitational attraction of the Sun also pulls

on the tides but since the Sun is not as close to Earth as the moon, Lunar tides are twice as high.

F. Depending on the phase of the moon solar tides can either diminish or enhance lunar tides1. Spring tide – during new moon/full moon, highest

high tides and lowest low tides2. Neap tide – during quarter moons/ high tides are

lower & low tides are higher

Homework:Draw a picture of a water molecule.  Label the oxygen and

hydrogens.Create a graph density vs. temperature graph for water.

 Explain why water is not most dense when it is frozen.The picture of the iceberg demonstrates the fact that liquid

water is more dense than solid water (Ice floats.)  Explain how this property makes life in the arctic possible for marine organisms like polar bears or ring seals.

Explain what is the average salinity of sea water.  How does the addition of salt changes the density of water. 

Why and how does changes in salinity affect living organisms?Write down the following sentence, adding the

words adhesion and cohesion in the correct places.  "________________ is the property of water that allows plankton to float near the water's surface.   ________________ is the property of water that allows trees to easily draw water up to their leaves."