Oceanography Final Exam

Over the past 30 years, Earth's average surface temperature has risen by:

0.6°C

Research on DDT concentration in coastal waters has documented that they are ________ compared to open-ocean concentrations.

10 times more

What is the primary cause of the nearly 20 percent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels since the 1960s?

Burning of fossil fuels

Which greenhouse gas is the most powerful in terms of how heat is absorbed by one molecule of the gas?

CFC-12

Which of the following caused devastating effects on the marine food chain and was banned in the United States in 1972?

DDT

Where are the large floating regions of trash in all oceans of the world where plastics outnumber marine organisms several times over located?

In subtropical gyres

Which of the following is considered the world's largest oil spill?

Intentional dumping by the Iraqi army in 1991.

Burning of fossil fuels is chemically similar to:

respiration.

Researchers reported in 2014 that more than 5.25 ________ plastic pieces are now floating in the ocean.

trillion

A close friend of yours announces that she is newly pregnant and wants to go out for a nice seafood dinner to celebrate! You agree, but using your newfound knowledge on ocean pollution, you strongly advise her that in order to protect her baby from birth defects, she should avoid eating ________.

tuna, because biomagnification results in high levels of methylmercury

The atmospheric component that naturally contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming on Earth is:

water vapor.

What is the normal range of variation of CO2 during the past 800,000 years?

180 ppm - 290 ppm

Biomagnification of toxic substances means that __________.

toxic substances become increasingly concentrated in the tissues of organisms in each higher level of the food web

Which of the following statements about the greenhouse effect and global warming are true? Choose all that apply. -Global warming will result in more prolonged droughts in some regions. -Eliminating all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions will stop further global warming immediately. -The greenhouse effect began about 200 years ago as a result of human-related activities. -Global warming will result in more rainfall in some regions. -Global warming will result in more intense tropical storms. -Global warming will reduce sea level due to increased evaporation.

-Global warming will result in more prolonged droughts in some regions. -Global warming will result in more rainfall in some regions. -Global warming will result in more intense tropical storms.

Of the following statements, which is/are included in the World Health Organization's definition of marine pollution? -Marine pollution can be a substance or a form of energy. -Marine pollution is aesthetically displeasing (an eyesore). -Marine pollution is harmful to human health only. -Marine pollution can be a natural occurrence. -Marine pollution is human-made. -Marine pollution results in or is likely to result in harmful effects to marine life.

-Marine pollution can be a substance or a form of energy. -Marine pollution is human-made. -Marine pollution results in or is likely to result in harmful effects to marine life.

Which of the following statements correctly identify a mechanism by which two spheres interact? Choose all that apply. -The geosphere and atmosphere interact through the activity of marine organisms. -The geosphere and atmosphere interact through volcanic eruptions. -The cryosphere and atmosphere interact through forest fires. -The biosphere and atmosphere interact through forest fires. -The hydrosphere and atmosphere interact through evaporation and precipitation.

-The geosphere and atmosphere interact through volcanic eruptions. -The biosphere and atmosphere interact through forest fires. -The hydrosphere and atmosphere interact through evaporation and precipitation.

Which of the following statements regarding the role of clouds in Earth's climate is/are correct? Choose all that apply. -Clouds reflect incoming sunlight, so they are always a negative feedback to climate. -The increase in clouds in a warming climate acts as a positive feedback by trapping more heat, making it warmer. -The decrease in clouds in a cooling climate acts as a negative feedback by reflecting less sunlight, making it warmer. -The increase in clouds in a warming climate acts as a negative feedback by reflecting more sunlight, making it cooler. -The decrease in clouds in a cooling climate acts as a positive feedback by trapping less heat, making it cooler.

-The increase in clouds in a warming climate acts as a positive feedback by trapping more heat, making it warmer. -The decrease in clouds in a cooling climate acts as a negative feedback by reflecting less sunlight, making it warmer. -The increase in clouds in a warming climate acts as a negative feedback by reflecting more sunlight, making it cooler. -The decrease in clouds in a cooling climate acts as a positive feedback by trapping less heat, making it cooler.

What is the result of a negative feedback loop? Choose all that apply. -warms the climate even more after an initial warming -acts to keep the climate steady and balance it against change -cools the climate after an initial warming -cools the climate even more after an initial cooling -warms the climate after an initial cooling

-acts to keep the climate steady and balance it against change -cools the climate after an initial warming -warms the climate after an initial cooling

Which of the following ocean changes are predicted to result from increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? Choose all that apply. -greater amounts of dissolved oxygen in seawater -an increase in the pH of the oceans -an increase in sea surface temperature -development of a stronger thermocline -migration of marine organisms into deeper waters and toward the poles

-an increase in sea surface temperature -development of a stronger thermocline -migration of marine organisms into deeper waters and toward the poles

Which of the following statements is/are an example of a negative feedback loop? Choose all that apply. -warming temperatures leading to decreased cloudiness and leading to cooling -warming temperatures leading to decreased cloudiness and leading to additional warming -cooling temperatures leading to decreased cloudiness and leading to warming -warming temperatures leading to increased cloudiness and leading to cooling -warming temperatures leading to increased cloudiness and leading to additional warming

-cooling temperatures leading to decreased cloudiness and leading to warming -warming temperatures leading to increased cloudiness and leading to cooling

Based on the World Health Organization's definition of marine pollution, which of the following is/are considered to be a form of marine pollution? -raw sewage released onto the floor of the deep ocean -a natural oil seep on the ocean floor that is discharging oil directly into the ocean -warmer-than-normal water created by outflow from a coastal power plant -sound from cargo ships traversing the ocean -sulfuric acid seeping into marine waters from a volcanic vent area -biodegradable food items dumped overboard from a cruise ship

-raw sewage released onto the floor of the deep ocean -warmer-than-normal water created by outflow from a coastal power plant -sound from cargo ships traversing the ocean -biodegradable food items dumped overboard from a cruise ship

Which of the following are examples of positive climate feedback loops? Choose all that apply. -the shading effect from air pollution -the addition of water vapor into the atmosphere -the presence of fine atmospheric particles called aerosols -heat uptake by the oceans

-the addition of water vapor into the atmosphere -heat uptake by the oceans

How is energy transferred from Earth's surface to Earth's atmosphere? Choose all that apply. -through latent heat in water vapor -through the greenhouse effect -through absorption -through conduction -through convection

-through latent heat in water vapor -through the greenhouse effect -through conduction -through convection

Which of the following statements is/are an example of a positive feedback loop? Choose all that apply. -warming temperatures leading to increased water vapor in the atmosphere and leading to additional warming -warming temperatures leading to decreased water vapor in the atmosphere and leading to cooling -cooling temperatures leading to decreased evaporation rates, leading to less water vapor in the atmosphere and further cooling -warming temperatures leading to increased water vapor in the atmosphere and leading to cooling -warming temperatures leading to decreased water vapor in the atmosphere and leading to additional warming

-warming temperatures leading to increased water vapor in the atmosphere and leading to additional warming -cooling temperatures leading to decreased evaporation rates, leading to less water vapor in the atmosphere and further cooling

What is the result of a positive feedback loop? Choose all that apply. -warms the climate even more after an initial warming -cools the climate after an initial warming -cools the climate even more after an initial cooling -acts to keep the climate steady and balance it against change -warms the climate after an initial cooling

-warms the climate even more after an initial warming -cools the climate even more after an initial cooling

Research on PCBs concentration in coastal waters has documented that they are ________ compared to open-ocean concentrations.

12 times more

After the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling platform in 2010, Scientists estimate that BP removed about ________ of the oil, most of it recovered directly from the well, burned at sea, or skimmed by boats.

25%

After the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling platform in 2010, Scientists estimate that about ________ of the oil either was naturally dispersed in the water as small droplets or was chemically dispersed.

25%

After the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling platform in 2010, Scientists estimate that about ________ of the oil hasn't been fully accounted for.

25%

What was the concentration of carbon dioxide, in parts per million (ppm), in the pre-industrial period?

280

Satellite data show that the rate of global sea level rise since 1993 is on average about:

3 millimeters/year.

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is scattered or reflected back to space before any heating effect is felt on Earth?

31%

What was atmospheric CO2 concentration when monitoring started

315.97 ppm

Since 1750, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased more than ________.

40%

What is atmospheric CO2 concentration now?

408.54 ppm

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is absorbed by Earth's surface?

45%

Approximately what percentage of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the oceans and continents?

47%

How much CO2 increase is that in 60 years?

A lot, 92.57 ppm increase

Which of the following characterizes the pesticide DDT and industrial chemicals such as PCBs? -persistence in the environment -biologically active -relatively high toxicity -propensity to accumulate in food chains -All of the above are correct.

All of the above are correct

Which of the following is not a consequence of global warming? -droughts in prime agricultural areas -shifts in the world-wide distribution of plant and animal communities -increasing hurricane intensity -melting of glacial ice -All the above are consequences of global warming.

All the above are consequences of global warming.

The 1989 oil spill that harmed Prince William Sound in Alaska was due to which of the following?

An oil tanker ran aground

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected at Earth's surface increased significantly?

Atmospheric temperature would decrease

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun decreased and was less than the longwave radiation lost to space?

Atmospheric temperature would decrease.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of outgoing longwave radiation decreased so that it was less than incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun?

Atmospheric temperature would increase.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected by clouds decreased significantly?

Atmospheric temperature would increase.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun was the same as the longwave radiation lost to space?

Atmospheric temperature would remain the same

Which of the following is the biggest single source of mercury in the ocean?

Burning of coal

Which of the following human-generated gases makes the greatest relative contribution to increasing the greenhouse effect?

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued which of the following statements?

Climate change models can mimic present-day conditions only if human emissions are taken into account.

In general, is land colder or warmer than the ocean? Why?

Colder because it can't retain the heat as well as water can. Water retains lots of heat without changing its temperature much while the land absorbs relatively less heat but heats/ cools down more easily.

Which of the following statements about increasing ocean temperatures as a result of global warming is correct?

Deeper ocean waters are warming faster than expected.

Recent worldwide sea level rise cannot be attributed to which of the following?

Geological uplifting of ocean basins

Which of the following has been proposed by scientists for the fate of the missing residual oil due to the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil-drilling platform in 2010?

It sunk to the sea floor.

Oil from the Exxon Valdez supertanker that polluted Prince William Sound in 1989 originated from which of the following?

North Slope of Alaska

How do the oceans contribute to maintaining a climate that is habitable for humans?

Oceans absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Which of the following is not considered a pollutant in the marine environment?

Phytoplankton

What causes the annual up/down cycle in the curve?

Plants absorb carbon in the spring and summer when they are active and then release it in the winter and fall

Know the keeling curve and how to interpret it

Plots average amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere taken at Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii

What impact will increased carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans have on coral reefs?

Reefs will degrade over time, ultimately resulting in large-scale mortality

Which of the following is the only viable explanation for the documented and observable recent climate changes, including the increased average temperature of Earth's surface?

Release of human-caused emissions

Up until 1993 New York City dumped which of the following into the coastal ocean?

Sewage sludge

How do snow and ice on the surface of Earth affect Earth's climate?

Snow and ice reflect incoming solar radiation.

Which of the following statements about human-caused climate change is correct?

Social acceptance of human-caused climate change by the U.S. general public lags far behind scientists.

Circulation in which of the following oceans is particularly sensitive to changes in its deep-water circulation pattern that dramatically and abruptly affect climate?

The North Atlantic Ocean

Which of the following statements about human-caused climate change is correct?

The existing scientific disagreements about human-caused climate change are about specific future impacts and consequences.

How will increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels affect oceans?

The oceans will become more acidic.

Which of the following drives deep-water circulation?

The sinking of cold, high-salinity, surface waters at high latitudes

Are temperatures on land more or less variable than in the ocean? Why?

They are much more variable than temperatures in the ocean because of the heat variation mentioned above.

Why are scientists doing research in an underwater lab in the Great Barrier Reef?

To replicate future carbon dioxide levels and measure the changes in coral reef productivity, mortality and health

What is the long-term trend of the curve?

Up, the CO2 concentration is getting larger

What is the greatest anthropogenic source of petroleum pollution to the ocean?

Urban runoff and individual vehicle owners

Is warming observed in the land temperature record? If so, how much?

Yes, there is a land temperature increase but the fluctuations on land are so large that it is hard to easily observe this land temperature increase. It looks like the temperature increase was from 8.5°C (1880) to 10°C (2010)

Which of the following are components of Earth's climate system? Choose all that apply. atmosphere geosphere cryosphere hydrosphere biosphere magnetosphere

atmosphere geosphere cryosphere hydrosphere biosphere

Which of Earth's spheres are humans a part of?

biosphere

Combustion of fossil fuels results in a transfer of carbon from the ____________.

biosphere to the atmosphere

As the ocean's surface is warmed, evaporation to the atmosphere increases. The addition of moisture to the atmosphere results in _________.

both positive and negative temperature feedback loops

The current level of atmospheric ________ recently surpassed 400 parts per million.

carbon dioxide

Which greenhouse gas is currently contributing the most to increasing the greenhouse effect?

carbon dioxide

The fourth IPCC Report of 2007 concluded that _________.

climate change models can mimic present-day conditions only if human emissions are taken into account

The most biologically devastating oil spills in the marine environment are usually a result of:

collision and/or sinking of oil tankers.

Which of Earth's spheres make up the climate system? Choose all that apply. cryosphere hydrosphere atmosphere biosphere geosphere

cryosphere hydrosphere atmosphere biosphere geosphere

The minimum area of Arctic sea ice cover has been __________ as air and water temperatures have been __________ over the past several decades.

decreasing; increasing

Arctic sea ice naturally __________ during the dark, cold winters and __________ during the spring and summer.

expands; contracts

Currently, a little less than ________ of the carbon dioxide humankind releases into the atmosphere stays there.

half

Sophisticated climate models forecast a strong warming of ________.

high northern latitudes

Numerous climate science studies suggest that ________ are the cause of the recent documented changes in Earth's climate.

human activities

Minamata disease is associated with:

ingestion of methyl mercury-contaminated fish and shellfish

The concentration of which greenhouse gas is currently increasing at the fastest rate?

methane

Which greenhouse gases have natural sources as well as human-caused sources? Choose all that apply. methane nitrous oxide tropospheric ozone chlorofluorocarbons carbon dioxide

methane nitrous oxide carbon dioxide

Domestic cattle production and rice agriculture release relatively large amounts of which gas into the atmosphere?

methane (CH4)

Researchers estimate that the Pacific Ocean contains at least 46 ________ pounds of floating microplastic pieces (microbeads) that originate from hand cleaners, exfoliating facial scrubs, and toothpaste, that are known to transport pollutants and be eaten by fish.

million

As sea ice melts and becomes liquid water, __________ heat is then absorbed from the Sun, creating warmer surface waters.

more

Petroleum in the ocean is not considered a pollutant when ________.

natural seepage is responsible

The two most significant human sources of oil pollution in the marine environment are:

normal oil tanker/shipping operations and urban run-off.

According to the World Health Organization definition of marine pollutants, __________ is NOT a pollutant.

oil from offshore seeps

Some plastics accumulate poisons such as DDT and PCBs to levels as high as a ________ times their concentrations in seawater.

one million

Arctic sea ice reached a historic minimum in 2012 that was approximately __________ the size of the long-term average recorded during 1979-2000.

one-half

Plastics cause significant biological damage in oceans when:

plastic waste strangles seals and birds

Only some shortwave radiation from the Sun reaches Earth's surface. What is the leading cause of this radiation loss?

reflection by clouds

What is the primary driver of Earth's climate?

solar radiation