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Ocean currents are large-scale movement of water that circulate around ocean basins, driven by wind, salinity, temperature differences, and Earth's rotation. They play a crucial role in heat distribution.

El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the warm phase of the ENSO cycle, with weakened trade winds and warmer waters in the eastern Pacific, affecting global weather patterns.

Coral bleaching occurs when coral polyps expel algae that live inside their tissues, usually due to stress from changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients.

The thermocline is a layer in a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly with depth, often leading to stratification.

An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea, mixing fresh and saltwater.

Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

A seamount is a mountain rising from the ocean seafloor that does not reach the surface, and is often volcanic. They are biodiversity hotspots and significant for marine life.

Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients, which induces excessive growth of algae and can result in oxygen depletion.

Marine snow is a continuous shower of mostly organic detritus falling from the upper layers of the water column to the deep sea, an important element in the oceanic carbon cycle.

Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism, commonly found in marine animals, as a means of communication, camouflage, attraction, or deterrence.

Zooplankton are heterotrophic plankton, which are small and drift in the ocean currents. They are a critical component of the marine food web, feeding on phytoplankton and small particulate organic matter.

Albedo is the measure of reflectivity of a surface. In oceanography, it affects how much solar energy is absorbed or reflected by the ocean's surface.

Abyssal plains are flat or very gently sloping areas of the deep ocean basin floor, representing one of the most extensive physical features on Earth's surface.

La Niña represents the cool phase of the ENSO cycle, with stronger trade winds and cooler waters in the eastern Pacific, influencing global climate.

Hydrothermal vents are fissures on the seafloor from which geothermally heated water discharges, supporting unique ecosystems independent of sunlight for energy.

A pycnocline is a layer in the ocean where the water density increases rapidly with depth due to changes in temperature and salinity, affecting water column stability.

Downwelling is the process where surface waters sink into deeper layers of the ocean, often distributing heat and nutrients.

Halocline refers to a layer of water where the salinity changes rapidly with depth. It is important for understanding water mass formation.

Upwelling is the process in which deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, often promoting high biological productivity.

The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent, covered by relatively shallow seas and gulfs. It is significant for marine ecosystems and human economic activities.

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves with extremely long wavelengths and period, caused by large-scale disturbances such as earthquakes, landslide, or volcanic eruptions.

Mangroves refer to coastal vegetation which inhabits saltwater coasts, acting as important buffers against storms and erosion and providing valuable ecosystems.

An ocean gyre is a large system of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and forces created by Earth's rotation. They greatly affect climate and marine systems.

Bathymetry is the study and mapping of the seafloor's topography. It is essential for understanding ocean floor features and ocean circulation.