Geol Ch. 7 quiz questions/study guide

Records indicate that the ocean is warming faster in the Arctic polar regions than elsewhere. If that continues, a possible consequence could be __________.

slowing of deep ocean circulation, resulting in lower oxygen levels in deep water

Of the following surface currents, which one(s) transport large volumes of warm water to higher latitudes? Canary Current North Pacific Current the Gulf Stream Brazil Current Peru Current Kuroshio Current

the Gulf Stream Brazil Current Kuroshio Current

The Ekman Spiral

results in Ekman transport

Thermohaline circulation describes ocean currents that

return to the surface via localized upwelling

Warm core rings and cold core rings are associated with __________ currents

western boundary currents

The major gyre circulation of the oceans is driven by

wind and Coriolis

To produce a surface current of 1.6 knots in the open ocean, a steady wind of _____ knots would be required.

80

The theoretical movement of surface water due to Ekman transport in the Northern Hemisphere is about __________.

90 degrees to the right of wind direction

Of the following statements about deep-ocean currents, which is/are true? ​Choose all that apply. Deep-ocean currents travel faster than ocean surface currents. Deep-ocean circulation is referred to as thermohaline flow. Deep-ocean currents are important regulators of global climate. Deep-ocean currents are initiated near Antarctica and in the North Atlantic Ocean, where cold, dense water sinks. Deep-ocean currents contain water with high oxygen concentrations.Deep-ocean currents transport a volume of water equal to that of 100 Amazon-size rivers.

Deep-ocean circulation is referred to as thermohaline flow. Deep-ocean currents are important regulators of global climate. Deep-ocean currents are initiated near Antarctica and in the North Atlantic Ocean, where cold, dense water sinks. Deep-ocean currents contain water with high oxygen concentrations.Deep-ocean currents transport a volume of water equal to that of 100 Amazon-size rivers.

Of the following statements about the Ekman spiral and Ekman transport, which is/are true? Ekman transport is the driving force for thermohaline flow. Ekman transport results in converging surface currents along the equator. Ekman transport is to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere. In the deeper layers of the Ekman spiral, water can move in a direction opposite of the wind direction. Ekman transport can result in both upwelling and downwelling. The Coriolis effect causes surface waters to move at an angle relative to the wind direction.

Ekman transport is to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere. In the deeper layers of the Ekman spiral, water can move in a direction opposite of the wind direction. Ekman transport can result in both upwelling and downwelling. The Coriolis effect causes surface waters to move at an angle relative to the wind direction.

Of the following conditions, which is/are related to strong El Niño events? ​Choose all that apply. Increase in sea surface temperatures and destruction of coral reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean Increase in productivity along coastal South America Higher sea levels in the eastern Pacific Ocean associated with warmer water Increase in the strength and consistency of the trade winds Increased abundance of hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Increase in sea surface temperatures and destruction of coral reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean Higher sea levels in the eastern Pacific Ocean associated with warmer water Increased abundance of hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Of the following gyres, which one(s) flow in a counterclockwise direction? ​Choose all that apply. Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre Northern Hemisphere Subpolar Gyres South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre North Pacific Subtropical Gyre South Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre Northern Hemisphere Subpolar Gyres South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre South Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Of the following surface currents, which one(s) flow generally from west to east? ​Choose all that apply. North Equatorial Current North Pacific Current East Australian Current California Current Equatorial Counter Current West Wind Drift

North Pacific Current Equatorial Counter Current West Wind Drift

Indian Ocean currents that are generated by seasonal changes in weather patterns are the __________ and __________ Currents.

Somali/Southwest Monsoon

The West Wind Drift is a part of which of the following subtropical gyres? ​Choose all that apply. North Pacific Subtropical Gyre South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre South Pacific Subtropical Gyre Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre

South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre South Pacific Subtropical Gyre Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre

Of the following currents, which ones are parts of the South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre? ​ South Equatorial Current Agulhas Current West Australian Current Brazil Current Benguela Current West Wind Drift

South Equatorial Current Brazil Current Benguela Current West Wind Drift

Which of these will always flow in the counterclockwise direction? geostrophic currents Northern hemisphere major subtropical gyres Southern hemisphere major subtropical gyres Eastern boundary currents

Southern hemisphere major subtropical gyres

Of the following statements about subtropical gyres, which is/are true? ​Choose all that apply. The rotation of each subtropical gyre causes a "hill" of water to pile up within it. All subtropical gyres flow in a clockwise direction. Globally, there are five subtropical gyres. The western boundary current of all subtropical gyres is intensified (it is fast, narrow, and deep). There are four main surface currents in each subtropical gyre. The centers of all subtropical gyres are associated with high atmospheric pressure.

The rotation of each subtropical gyre causes a "hill" of water to pile up within it. Globally, there are five subtropical gyres. The western boundary current of all subtropical gyres is intensified (it is fast, narrow, and deep). There are four main surface currents in each subtropical gyre. The centers of all subtropical gyres are associated with high atmospheric pressure.

The largest of the great ocean surface currents is the __________.

West Wind Drift

Of the following locations, where would upwelling be expected to occur? ​Choose all that apply. In regions with a well-developed pycnocline Where there is a sharp bend in a coastline Where seamounts or tablemounts are present In areas of converging surface currents In areas of diverging surface currents

Where there is a sharp bend in a coastline Where seamounts or tablemounts are present In areas of diverging surface currents

During a strong El Niño event, the news media might be expected to cover __________.

a tropical cyclone in Hawaii or Tahiti

Ocean gyres form as a result of "hills" of water forming in the centers of the oceans: that are piled up by Ekman transport of water resulting in clockwise circulation of the Northern hemisphere up to 2 meters high all of these are correct

all of these are correct

Downwelling can result from __________.

converging surface currents

The direction of flow in a cold-core ring will be

counter-clockwise

The Indian Ocean summer monsoon

is associated with winds from the southwest

A feature of Western boundary currents is that there are

narrow

El Nino is

one part of the Southern Oscillation Cycle

An ​indirect​ method of measuring ocean currents is the use of __________.

radar altimeters

Upwelling

refers to water flowing upward

Deep ocean current movement is also known as __________.

thermohaline flow