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