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ABE (Autonomous Benthic Explorer)
An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle designed at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the 1990s. It is a true robot and can move on its own without being tethered to a ship or submersible. It can monitor underwater areas for long periods of time.
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abiotic
Nonliving.
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ablation
Reduction in volume of glacier ice by melting, calving, and evaporation.
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abundance
A large amount.
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abundant
Present in large numbers, plentiful.
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abyssal currents
Currents deep in the ocean that cause cold, dense water, produced in high latitudes due to cooling by the atmosphere, to flow to the equator.
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abyssal plains
Flat or very gently sloping areas of the deep ocean basin floor.
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acoustic
Pertaining to hearing, sound, or the science of sound.
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adapt
To adjust to different conditions, environment, etc.
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adaptation
The gradual changing of structure, form or behavior of a plant or animal to increase its chances of survival and reproduction.
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adult
A fully grown, mature organism.
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advance
A glacier is said to advance when it grows or increases in volume.
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albedo
The fraction of the total light striking a surface that gets reflected from that surface. An object that has a high albedo (near 1) is very bright; an object that has a low albedo (near 0) is dark. The Earth's albedo is about 0.37. The Moon's is about 0.12.
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alevin
A salmon that has hatched and still has a yolk sack.
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algae
Simple one-celled or many celled plant-like organisms, usually living in the water, that can make their own food through photosynthesis. They do not have true roots, stems, or leaves like plants and belong to the kingdom Protista. They can be microscopic, one-celled organisms or many-celled organisms up to 100 feet long.
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amplitude
Height of a wave crest or depth of a wave trough. The amplitude of an ocean wave is the maximum height of the wave crest above the level of calm water, or the maximum depth of the wave trough below the level of calm water.
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anadromous
A fish that lives in salt water, but spawns in fresh water.
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aphelion
The point on the Earth's orbit that is farthest from the sun.
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apogee
The point in the orbit of the moon that is farthest from the earth.
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aquaculture
The farming of ocean and freshwater plants and animals for food.
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aquatic
1. Living or growing in water. 2. Taking place on or in water.
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archaeology
The scientific study of past human life and culture by the examination of physical remains, such as graves, tools, and pottery.
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arctic
The region lying north of the Arctic Circle or of the northernmost limit of tree growth.
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array signal
A signal that comes from a group (or array) of hydrophones being towed by a ship.
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aspect
The exposure, or direction that something faces, i.e. "southern aspect".
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audio
Of or relating to the transmission, reception, or reproduction of sound.
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autonomous
Independent.
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Autonomous Underwater Vehicel (AUV)
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AUV - Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Scientists can tell these machines where to go underwater. They will go to the sea floor, get information, and bring it back to the scientists.
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balance
1. A state of equilibrium; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc. 2. An instrument for determining weight, typically made up of a bar with a fulcrum at the center and with scales or pans at each end of the bar, one holding a known weight and the other holding the object to be weighed.
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baleen
A flexible horny substance hanging in fringed plates from the upper jaw of some whales, called baleen whales. It is used to strain plankton from seawater when feeding.
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ballast
Heavy material placed in the hold of a ship to make it more stable.
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bathymetry
Measurements of the depths of the ocean floor. Data from the measurements gives information about the topography and features underwater.
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bed
The rock surface underlying a glacier.
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benthic
Relating to the bottom of the sea or other water body.
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bidarki
Russian word for “boat".
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biodegradable
Able to decompose naturally: made of substances that will decay relatively quickly as a result of the action of bacteria.
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biodiversity
The number and variety of species within an area or region.
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biological productivity
The rate at which organic matter is produced.
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biopsy
The removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes.
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biotic
Living.
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blog
Short for "weblog", a shared on-line journal where people post diary entries.
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blubber
The fat layer between the skin and muscle of whales and some other marine mammals.
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boundary
A border or limit.
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bristles
Short, stiff hairs on certain animals.
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carnivore
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cause
(noun) Something that produces an effect. A person or thing that acts, happens, or exists in such a way that something specific happens as a result. (verb) To be the cause of something.
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change
To become different, or to cause something to become different.
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characteristic
A feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe; a distinguishing mark or trait.
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chiton
Mollusk with a muscular foot on the underside of its body and a shell that consists of eight, white, overlapping butterfly-shaped plates.
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claim
Statement that something is true or factual.
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claw
A pincerlike structure on the end of a limb of a crustacean or other arthropod.
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climate
The general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including temperature, rainfall, and wind.
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clue
Anything that serves to guide or direct in the solution of a problem or mystery.
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collaboration
Working together, especially in a joint effort.
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colleagues
Fellow members of a profession.
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communication
The imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
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community
The plants and animals living and interacting within a specific area.
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compare
To examine (two or more objects, ideas, people, etc.) in order to note similarities and differences.
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compression wave
A shock wave that compresses the medium through which it is transmitted.
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concentration
A measure of the amount of dissolved substance contained per unit of volume.
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concentric topography
Landforms that are circular in shape, with a common center.
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condensation
The opposite of evaporation. Condensation occurs when a gas is changed into a liquid.
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condense
Water vapor that changes into a liquid.
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conference
(as in scientific conference) A formal meeting of members of a profession to discuss matters of common concern.
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conservation
The protection, preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources such as forests, soil, and water.
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consumer
An organism, usually an animal, that feeds on plants or other animals.
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continental shelf
The extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain, covered by shallow seas and gulfs.
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contour
The outline of a figure or body; the edge or line that defines or bounds a shape or object.
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contour line
A line on a map that joins points of equal elevation.
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contribution
Act of giving in common with others for a common purpose.
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controversy
Strong disagreement between opposing points of view.
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conveyor belt
The global system of currents that carries heat in the ocean and helps to moderate Earth's climate.
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copepod
A tiny marine animal (crustacean) with a long body, a forked tail, and usually six pairs of limbs. They are an important food source for many water animals.
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creek
A stream smaller than a river.
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crest
The top or highest peak of a wave.
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crevasse
A deep fissure, crack, or cleft in glacier ice.
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crustacean
An aquatic invertebrate animal such as a lobster, crab, shrimp, or barnacle, characteristically having a segmented body, a hard shell, and paired, jointed limbs. A member of the class Crustacea and phylum Arthropoda.
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current
A steady, smooth onward movement or flow.
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cyst
Dormant brine shrimp eggs.
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data
Individual facts, statistics, or items of information.
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data collection
A process of gathering and preparing data.
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decompose
To rot or decay.
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decomposition
The process of rotting or decay. The process of breaking down organic material, such as dead plant or animal tissue, into smaller molecules that are available for use by the organisms of an ecosystem. Decomposition is carried on by bacteria, fungi, protists, worms, and certain other organisms.
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dense
Crowded close together or compact.
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density
The mass per unit of volume; compactness.
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derelict
Deserted or abandoned.
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details
Small, individual parts or items; particulars.
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detective
A person who obtains evidence or information.
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develop
To progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
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diatom
Any of numerous microscopic, unicellular, marine or freshwater algae of the phylum Chrysophyta, having cell walls containing silica.
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diffusion
The process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration.
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display
To show or exhibit.
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diurnal tides
daily tides with one high and one low in a 24-hour period.
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diversity
Variety; a variety of something such as plants and animals in an ecosystem.
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Drone
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drone
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ebb
To flow back or away.
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ecological
Having to do with ecology, which is the science of the relationships between organisms and their environments.
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ecosystem
A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment.
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Home
Instructional Strategies
Planning Field Trips
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Search
Contact Us
Kindergarten
Formative Assessment
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