GLY150: INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHY University of North Carolina Wilmington

Back

Lecture Outline

Origin of Earth's Atmosphere and Oceans, Earth's Age

I. Earth and the Triple Point of Water

• Water as a liquid, gas and solid on Earth's surface
  • Surface temperature and distance from Sun
  • Rotation rate
• Source of Water/Oceans on Earth
  • Outgassing during differentiation of Earth's interior
  • Comet impact

II. Distribution of Water and Land on the Earth

• Hydrologic Cycle
  • Reservoirs
    • oceans - 97.9%
    • rivers and lakes- 0.02%
    • groundwater -0.6%
    • atmosphere- 0.001%
    • glaciers - 2%
  • Processes
    • Evaporation
    • Precipitation
    • Infiltration
    • Transpiration
    • Run-off
• Hypsographic Curve
  • Oceans - 71% of Earth's Surface
    • mean depth - 3795m
    • largest area in 4000-6000m
  • Land - 29% of Earth's surface
    • mean elevation - 840m
    • largest area near sea level
• Major Oceans
  • Pacific
  • Atlantic
  • Indian
  • Arctic

III Age of Earth

• Radiometric Age Dating
  • half-life
• Geologic time Scale

Some helpful links relevant to these lectures:
Ocean Planet
Views of the Solar System
Geologic Time Scale

Top of Page