chapter 7

Deep-water circulation brings dense, cold, oxygen-rich water from the surface to the deep ocean because of:

Greater dissolution of oxygen in colder water than warmer water

In the southern hemisphere, the direction of ekman transport is always:

To the left of the wind direction

Dynamic topography can be used to determine current direction and velocity.

True

The main current in Antarctic waters is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, also called the West Wind Drift.

True

Surface or wind-driven currents move water primarily in a vertical direction in the ocean.

false

The ekman spiral is caused by

the wind and the Coriolis effect.

downwelling may be the result of winds blowing parallel to a coastline or the convergence of surface currents

true

during its time in the deep ocean water can become enriched in oxygen

true

the circular movement of surface water currents driven by the major wind belts are called gyres

true

western boundary currents such as the Gulf Stream transport warm water from the tropics towards higher latitudes

true

Which of the following is true of surface water circulation near antarctica?

A gyre is formed here

During winter months, monsoon winds over the indian ocean:

Flow from land to sea and are dry

Choose the one that does not fit the pattern:

Agulhas current

Which of the following is a western boundary current?

Brazil current

Compared to western boundary currents, eastern boundary currents are:

Broad and slow

Choose the one that does not fit the pattern:

California current

When a meander from the gulf stream pinches off and isolates a body of water within the north atlantic gyre, the body of water is called a:

Cold core ring

Deep ocean currents are driven primarily by _________ and modified by _________:

Density differences; differences in salinity and temperature

The worldwide effects of el nino include all of the following except:

Drought in the U.S. gulf coastal states

Identify the mismatched pair from the choices below:

Labrador current, humboldt current

Compared to antarctic bottom water, north atlantic deep water is:

Lower in oxygen

Surface waters are pushed away from land and replaced by nutrient-rich bottom water through:

Upwelling

Strong upwelling occurs in all of the following except:

Where deep ocean water currents are formed

Surface ocean currents are driven primarily by _________ and modified by ________

Wind; the coriolis effect and land

Compared to an eastern boundary current in a gyre, which of the following statements is true for a western boundary current?

All of the above

The arrangement of water masses in the southern atlantic ocean from the surface to the bottom is:

Antarctic intermediate water, north atlantic deep water, antarctic bottom water

Which type of current flow moves in a circular path around a subtropical convergence, reflecting ekman transport, gravity, and the coriolis effect?

Geostrophic circulation

Geostrophic circulation within a gyre driven by:

Gravity and the coriolis effect

Which of the following is not an eastern boundary current?

Gulf stream

Sources of deep water in the ocean include all of the following except:

Subtropical convergences

Which of the following statements is true of surface ocean currents?

Surface currents from circular patterns in the major ocean basins called "gyres"

The five subtropical gyres exhibit geostrophic flow related to pressure gradients friction and the coriolis effect

TRUE

The el nino southern oscillation can best be described as:

The relationship between sea surface temperature and changing atmospheric pressure

Equatorial currents are driven by the:

Trade winds

Deep ocean water masses have characteristic temperatures and salinities.

True

Thermohaline circulation is driven by:

density differences

Western intensification causes:

all of the above

An eastern boundary current is generally narrow and swift

false

Deep ocean water does not travel across the equator.

false

Surface ocean currents are vertical currents in the water column that are density driven

false

surface currents affect about 90 percent of the worlds oceans water

false

the gulf stream moves water away from the equator the Benguela current moves some of this water back toward the equator

false

the west wind drift occurs at 60 degrees north around the arctic circle

false

thermohaline circulation is wind driven

false

A Doppler flow meter is a scientific instrument used to measure current flow rates.

true

Monsoons are seasonal pressure systems that develop at lower latitudes over continents, which cause changes in seasonal winds and precipitation patterns.

true

deep ocean currents often move cold dense water away from the poles

true