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Marine Science Chapter 2 Vocabulary

Terms

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Aqualung
Compressed-air scuba device, used for underwater research.
Ballast
Heavy material carried in a vessel to provide desired draft and stability.
Bar
Pressure measurement equal to the air pressure at sea level, roughly equal to one atmosphere.
Bathyscaphe
Extremely deep diving underwater vessels that operate much like an autonomous blimp, descending and rising vertically without connection to the surface and with limited ability for horizontal movement.
Bathysphere
Extremely deep diving underwater vessel, connected to a support ship by a cable, only capable of vertical movement.
Caisson Disease
The name given to a variety of symptoms suffered by a person exposed to a reduction in the pressure surrounding their body. Caused by the release of dissolved nitrogen from the blood stream.
Chronometer
Sea going clock or watch used to determine longitude-time piece introduced in 1735 that would run accurately ever through rough seas.
Circumnavigation
To travel all the way around the Earth by boat or ship.
Closed Circuit Scuba
Scuba system that recirculates exhalation, rather than wasting exhalation as bubbles.
Decompression
The gradual reduction in atmospheric pressure experienced by divers.
Decompression Sickness
Originally known as "caisson disease", is the name given to a variety of symptoms suffered by a person exposed to a reduction in the pressure surrounding their body. Caused by the release of dissolved nitrogen from the blood stream.
Decompression Stops
The period of time a diver must spend at a constant depth in shallow water at the end of a dive to safely eliminate absorbed inert gases from the diver's body to avoid decompression sickness.
Diving Bell
A cable-suspended watertight chamber, open at the bottom, that is lowered underwater to operate as a means of transport for a small number of divers.
Echo-sounding
Technique of using sound pulses directed from the surface vertically down to measure the distance to the bottom by means of sound waves.
Fauna
A collective term for animal life of any particular region or time.
Genera
Major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the taxonomic classification of organisms, consisting of more than one species.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the US Department of Defense.
Hard-hat Diving
First practical dive equipment, named for its helmet that resembles a "Hard-hat".
Hardsuit
Used for "Hard-hat" diving, in which air was supplied from the surface through a tube.
Heliox
A breathing gas used by divers that is composed of a mixture of helium and oxygen.
Hull
The body of a ship or boat that provides the buoyancy that keeps the vessel from sinking.
Hydrothermal Vent
Deep ocean hot mineral springs found where tectonic plates meet.
Hyperbaric Chamber
Used as treatment for diving disorders involving decompression sickness. The chamber cures decompression sickness by increasing pressure
Loran-C
A navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters that use the time interval between radio signals received from three or more stations to determine the position of a ship.
Maritime
Refers to things relating to the sea.
Meridian
Longitude lines.
Navigation
The guidance of ships from place to place and the processes involved.
Open Circuit Scuba
Scuba system that delivers compressed air from a cylinder when you inhale, when you exhale the air then goes in to the water forming bubbles.
Outrigger
Part of a boat's rigging which is rigid and extends beyond the side of a boat.
Oxygen Rebreather
Type of breathing set found in closed circuit scuba equipment that provides a breathing gas containing oxygen and recycles exhaled gas.
Parallel
Latitude lines.
Piloting
Ocean navigation based on using visible shore references.
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)
Essentially an underwater robot that allows the operator to remain on a ship or in a submarine.
Rudder
Device used to steer ships.
Seafaring
Traveling by sea.
Submersible
Typically two- and three-person, independently self-propelled vessels that dive in moderate to deep depths.
Support Vessels
A ship that is used as a floating base for diving projects.
Technical
Discipline of technical diving adopted by research divers to extend their performance, depths, and times.
Underwater Habitat
Scientific diving operations of NOAA called Aquarius.

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