OCE test 2
A tropical cyclone with a wind speed of 220 km/hr. would be classified as Category ________ on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of hurricane intensity.
4
Which of the following is the smallest reservoir of the Earth's hydrologic cycle?
Atmospheric water vapor
Dissolved ions are removed from the ocean through which of these processes?
Hydrothermal activity at the mid-ocean ridge
What occurs more often, pure destructive, pure constructive, or mixed interference?
Mixed interference
Where did most of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere come from?
photosynthesis of phytoplankton in the ocean
In the figure above, if this is a western-facing coast of the Northern Hemisphere, which wind pattern would cause coastal downwelling?
wind C
In the figure above, if this is a western-facing coast of the Southern Hemisphere, which wind pattern would cause coastal upwelling?
wind C
Most ocean waves form as a result of:
winds blowing across the ocean surface
The Coriolis effect is due to changes in the ________ of Earth with latitude.
velocity
Look at the accompanying map showing the locations of the 15 largest earthquakes in the world since 1900. The information on the map makes it possible for people living around these active earthquake areas to know that they live in a high-risk area for earthquakes. Imagine an earthquake is about to occur at location 2 on the map (southern Alaska). Which of the following statements is most accurate?
- All locations (except 9) could benefit from an alert that an earthquake occurred at location 2, as they are near the ocean and might experience a resultant tsunami. - Most of the people living at location 2 probably are aware that they live in a location where earthquakes are likely.
The accompanying image depicts the three states of water and the processes by which water changes from one state to another. Use this information to match the correct state to each of the following statements. Note that in this context, "water" refers to water in liquid form
- Liquid (water): The state of matter in which water is densest - Gas (vapor): The state of matter in which water molecules are most energetic. - Gas (vapor): The state of matter in which water is compressible. - Gas (vapor): The state of matter of steam rising from a hot cup of coffee. - Solid (ice): The state of matter in which water molecules vibrate about fixed locations. - Solid (ice): The state of matter of frost on grass
Can you determine where each sample was from? Use what you know about relative salinity and its global variation. Label the samples accordingly and complete the two sentences with labels that correctly describe seasonal sea ice melt and seawater freezing and the relationship to salinity. Samples were collected at the locations of the circles on the map.Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets
- Locations that experience seasonal seawater freezing have INCREASED SALINITY in the surrounding seawater during that time. - Locations that experience seasonal ice melting have DECREASED SALINITY - Sample A: Atlantic Ocean: high salinity content --> JUST EAST OF THE BAHAMAS - Sample B: Atlantic Ocean: moderate to low salinity content --> OFF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA, NEAR THE EQUATOR - Sample C: high salinity content --> FROM THE RED SEA - Sample D: moderate to low salinity content --> FROM THE BALTIC SEA
Tsunamis travel through the ocean at very fast speeds, but sometimes they can take hours to reach a coastline because they have to travel great distances. This means that government agencies sometimes have enough time to warn their citizenry of a coming tsunami and conduct an evacuation. Look at the map below, and rank the time it would take a tsunami to reach Honolulu from the given sources. Rank from longest travel time to shortest travel time.
- longest: south america - new guinea - Aleutian Islands
What factors drive Ekman transport?
-Coriolis effect -wind
Which of the following characteristics of Earth's relationship to the Sun explains the existence of Earth's seasons?
-Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane. -Earth spins on its axis, completing one rotation each day. -Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one orbit each year. -Earth's axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars
Why do dissolved oxygen concentrations increase at depths greater than about 1000 meters at high and low latitudes?
-deeper water is colder -oxygen is more soluble at these depths -there are fewer marine organisms at these depths
The surface of Earth absorbs approximately 50 percent of the solar energy that enters the top of the atmosphere. Most of this absorbed energy is reradiated by Earth's surface and absorbed by the atmosphere. Water and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorb this radiation, which results in heating of the atmosphere. Controls of temperature refers to all factors that cause temperature to vary from place to place. Differences in the receipt of solar radiation is the greatest single cause of temperature variance. Some other factors include: Land and water—Land heats more rapidly and to higher temperatures than water. Land also cools more rapidly and to lower temperatures than water. Altitude—Proximity to land, which heats the atmosphere, increases temperature. Cloud cover—Clouds reduce incoming solar radiation during the day, while absorbing and reradiating terrestrial radiation during the night. Albedo—The fraction of total radiation reflected by a surface. High amounts of radiation, which can act to warm the Earth, is reflected when a surface has a high albedo. Areas that are bright white or pale colored typically have a high albedo. Geographic position—Mountains, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation can all affect climate. The image below shows that about 30 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected and scattered back into space. How would a 50 percent increase in Earth's albedo impact average surface temperatures?
-Ice sheets would advance, thereby increasing Earth's overall albedo and further cooling Earth's surface. -Higher albedo would result in cooler temperatures on Earth.
Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Coriolis effect?
-In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the right of its intended direction. -In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the left of its intended direction.
Of the following conditions, which is/are related to strong El Niño events?
-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
As climate change causes global rises in temperature, which of the following processes affecting sea surface salinity are likely to occur?
-Increased melting of glacial ice and sea ice will decrease sea surface salinity -Decreased sea ice formation will decrease sea surface salinity -Higher levels of precipitation and runoff will decrease sea surface salinity -Higher levels of evaporation from the ocean will increase sea surface salinity
Of the following gyres, which ones flow in a counterclockwise direction?
-Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre -South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre -South Pacific Subtropical Gyre -Northern Hemisphere Subpolar Gyres
Which of the following statements is true of water in a solid state?
-It is rigid and forms a three-dimensional crystalline shape -Water molecules in ice remain in a relatively fixed position and are not as mobile as they are in the liquid state, where there are fewer hydrogen bonds
Why was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami so deadly?
-People did not immediately evacuate following the offshore earthquake. -People did not recognize the signs of an approaching tsunami. -Indian Ocean tsunami are relatively rare.
Of the following methods, which are indirect methods for measuring currents?
-Pressure gradients -Doppler flow meter -Dynamic topography
Of the following statements about seawater salinity, which is/are true?
-Seawater salinity averages 3.5% -Seawater salinity averages 35 ppt -The two most common dissolved components in seawater are sodium and chloride
When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?
-September Equinox -March Equinox
Which of the following statements is/are true regarding subtropical convergence?
-Subtropical convergence is caused by the clockwise rotation of each gyre in the northern hemisphere -Subtropical convergence produces a hill of piled up water in the center of each gyre in the northern hemisphere that is deflected towards the west -Subtropical convergence causes a bulge of surface water that can be as high as 2 meters.
On a west coast in the Northern Hemisphere, what happens to surface waters when winds blow from the south?
-Surface waters move onshore -Downwelling occurs.
Recall that global winds impact the direction of surface ocean currents. Examine the following map showing the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa. The direction of the surface current and the prevailing wind do not coincide. What can explain this discrepancy?Select the two that apply.
-The Coriolis effect deflects ocean currents in the Southern Hemisphere to the left due to Earth's rotation. -Because the current is located in the Southern Hemisphere, the subtropical gyre pulls the current in a counterclockwise direction.
The accompanying graph charts the average monthly high temperatures in Urbana, Illinois, and San Francisco, California. Both cities are located at approximately the same latitude; however, they experience very different temperatures. Urbana is located in a rural area with lots of farmland, is in the middle of the continent, and experiences a moderate-to-high amount of snow in the winter. On the other hand, San Francisco is a big city located on the coast of Pacific Ocean, which decreases seasonal temperature variation. This city doesn't typically have much snowfall during the winter. Determine which line on the graph represents Urbana and which represents San Francisco and label each for the correct city. Indicate how you figured this out by answering the question below.
-The ocean by San Francisco limits is temperature variation -Urbana -San Fran
Of the following statements about the pH of seawater, which is/are true?
-The pH of seawater is higher than that of pure water. -The carbonate buffering system stabilizes the pH of seawater. -Dissolving carbon dioxide in seawater decreases the pH of seawater.
During a visit to the beach, you get in a small rubber raft and paddle out beyond the surf zone. You become tired, so you stop and take a rest. Describe the movement of your raft beyond the surf zone.
-The raft moves in a circle, and it returns to essentially the same place. -The raft's net movement is not toward the shore compared to the surf zone
How do hydrogen bonds define the three states of matter in water?
-There are no hydrogen bonds when water is in a gas phase.Ice has more hydrogen bonds than water vapor does -In liquid water, there are some hydrogen bonds between water molecules that form and break repeatedly. -Water will be a solid if there are hydrogen bonds between all water molecules.
On a west coast in the Northern Hemisphere, what happens to surface waters when winds blow from the north?
-Upwelling occurs -Surface waters move offshore.
Tornadoes often form at the cold front of a middle-latitude cyclone or in association with a supercell thunderstorm. They often form as the result of cold, dry air from Canada interacting with warm, wet air from the Gulf of Mexico. There is no natural barrier separating these air masses in the central United States, which is why tornadoes primarily occur there. Our ability to detect and forecast tornadoes is improving: Doppler radar makes it easier for scientists to observe motion in the atmosphere that may form (or already be) a tornado. Tornado warnings are generally issued based on people reporting funnel clouds or Doppler radar-based observations. The warnings are not counted if there is no tornado. Example Doppler radar images are below. The table below shows the total number of confirmed tornadoes in the United States for each decade for the years 1950 through 2009. Which of the following statements provides a possible logical explanation for the increased number of tornadoes during the 1990s and 2000s compared to the 1950s and 1960s?
-Using Doppler radar more effectively allows scientists to detect more tornadoes than was previously possible. - Population increases mean that more people could report tornadoes in more areas.
You are enjoying time at the beach on a warm summer day. It is late afternoon, and a breeze has started to develop. For most of the day, the winds were calm; the breeze only started within the past hour or so. Based on these details, what can you say about this breeze? Select all of the options that apply to this scenario.
-Warm land has now sufficiently heated the overlying air, so that cooler air over the ocean is now moving onshore as a sea breeze. -The breeze is most likely a cool breeze coming from the water.
Which of the following is a property of water that is caused by the unusual geometry of water molecules?
-Water molecules hydrate other ions -Water molecules form hydrogen bonds -Water has cohesion and surface tension -Water has the ability to dissolve just about anything.
Which of the following statements is/are true concerning waves?
-Waves can travel long distances across the ocean -A floating object on a wave will move up and back, up and forward, down and forward, and down and backward, ending up in the same place it started. -Waves are orbital
Of the following locations, where would upwelling be expected to occur?
-Where there is a sharp bend in a coastline -Where seamounts or tablemounts are present -In areas of diverging surface currents
What can cause a tsunami?
-a meteor impact on the ocean -an undersea earthquake -an undersea volcanic eruption -an undersea landslide
Which of the following objects would appear to bob up and down with the waves in the ocean?
-a plastic bottle -a surfer -a bird
What is a tsunami?
-a shallow-water wave caused by displacement of the water column -a seismic sea wave
Understanding wind movement is increasingly important as wind power becomes more common. Wind turbines are driven by air and create electricity, so faster air means more power. Air close to Earth's surface doesn't move as quickly because it is slowed by friction with Earth's surface. Wind turbines are tall in order to access the faster-moving air above Earth's surface. Which of the following options describe the features of the ideal location to erect wind turbines in order to generate the most electricity?
-a strong pressure gradient -flat, elevated land
Which of the following are benefits of wave power?
-creates clean energy -large supply of energy from waves -uses simple technology -creates renewable energy
Which of the following are true of western boundary currents?
-deep, as compared to eastern boundary currents -fast, as compared to eastern boundary currents
Which of the following are names for large ocean waves that can be created by constructive interference?
-freak waves -super waves -rogue waves
Actual geostrophic flow is created by which of the following?
-gravity -Coriolis effect -friction
Why does the west coast of South Africa have high biological productivity?
-lots of coastal upwelling -high concentrations of nutrients in the surface water
What are some of the challenges that wave power plants face?
-must operate in a corrosive environment -must maintain the beauty of the coastline -must withstand high wave energy
Of the following processes, which increases the salinity of seawater?
-sea ice formation -evaporation
Which of the following are true of eastern boundary currents?
-wide, as compared to western boundary currents -weak, as compared to western boundary currents -they flow along the more gradual slope of the hill of water
Surface ocean currents are driven primarily by ________ and modified by _______
-wind -the Coriolis effect and land
In the figure above, showing a photograph of Crater Lake. Based on the appearance of the surface of the water in the photograph, what Beaufort number most likely reflects wind conditions at the time the photograph was taken?
0
At what latitude(s) on Earth is the speed of rotation the greatest?
0 degrees
If Sea A and Sea B have wave heights of 3 meters, what would be the height of waves resulting from destructive interference?
0 meters
What is the density of pure water?
1 g/cm3
Wind motion is controlled by air pressure. Winds generally blow from cooler, higher-pressure regions into warmer, lower-pressure regions. Therefore, determining the pressure relationship between neighboring air masses can tell us a lot about wind direction and strength of wind. A key aspect to describing winds, albeit a bit counter-intuitive, is to focus on where the wind comes from, not where it is going. Some common winds are given specific names that convey their directionality in this way, as described below. Country breeze—Cities tend to retain heat better than outlying areas. This urban warm air rises, creating a low-pressure region into which cooler air from the country blows into the city. Sea breeze and land breeze—These breezes develop because of temperature differences between land and ocean, causing differences in atmospheric temperatures as well. The wind moves from the cooler (high pressure) to the warmer (low pressure) region. When predicting these winds, keep in mind that land cools and warms faster than water. Valley breeze and mountain breeze—During the day, air on mountain slopes is heated more than air in valleys. This less-dense air then moves up the side of the mountain as a valley breeze. However, at night the air along mountain sides cools more rapidly. This dense air then moves down the mountainside and is called a mountain breeze. Chinook and Santa Ana winds—A Chinook wind forms as air moves down the leeward side of the Rockies, warming by compression as it descends. Chinook winds generally occur in the winter or spring, so they are often warmer than the surrounding air. A Santa Ana breeze forms by the same process, but occurs in Southern California.
1. chinook 2. country breeze 3. sea breeze 4. valley breeze
Ocean surface currents transfer about ________ of the total amount of heat from the tropics to the poles.
1/3rd
You live on an island in the Pacific. An earthquake of magnitude 8.5 off the coast of Japan, 8000 km away, generates a tsunami with a wavelength of 200 km. The average water depth between your island and Japan is 4900 m. If a tsunami warning is issued for your island, how many hours will you have before the waves arrive?
10.14 hours
Changes in air pressure can be used to predict weather changes. A common way to measure changes in air pressure is to use a mercury barometer. In a mercury barometer, the mercury used for measuring pressure is found in a tube with one open end. The open end of the tube is placed in a small pool of mercury. The mercury tries to fall out of the tube into the mercury pool, but is held up by the creation of a vacuum at the top of the tube. The length of this vacuum is related to the pressure of the air around the barometer, because higher pressure air exerts more force on the mercury pool, driving more mercury into the tube. The mass of the mercury displaced is proportional to the air pressure, which is measured as the length of the empty area of the tube. In theory, a barometer could be made with any liquid. The mass of liquid displaced by changes in atmospheric pressure is the same, regardless of liquid. Mercury is preferred because it is very dense, so a smaller barometer is sufficient to record pressure changes. The density of mercury is 13.5 times greater than the density of water. If you were to build a barometer that used water instead of mercury to record the standard pressure at sea level, what would be the height of that barometer? Assume that the mercury barometer is 76 centimeters, or 29.92 inches, long (this is the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level).
1026 centimeters (403.92 inches)
Based on the graph, what is the approximate period of a deep-water wave with a speed of 20 meters per second?
13 seconds
What is the speed in meters per second of a deep water wave with a wavelength of 3.5 meters?
2.34 meters per second
In the open ocean, 1 wave in ________ will be over TWICE the height of the wave average.
23
At what Beaufort number do whitecaps begin forming?
3
Waves from separate sea areas move away as swell and produce an interference pattern when they come together. If Sea A has wave heights of 2 meters and Sea B has wave heights of 5 meters, what would be the height of waves resulting from DESTRUCTIVE interference?
3 meters
If you were the captain of a sailing ship, which of the following latitudes would you want to avoid MOST?
30 degrees
The prevailing westerlies occur in which of the following regions?
30 to 60 degrees
For a deep-water wave, wave speed can be calculated using the following formula: Wave speed = wavelength/ period Use this formula to calculate the period (in seconds) for a wave with a wave speed of 7 meters/ second and a wavelength of 30 meters
4.29 seconds
If a wave has a period of 16 seconds, what is its wavelength in meters?
400 meters
For a deep-water wave, wave speed can be calculated using the following formula: Wave speed = wavelength/ period Use this formula to calculate the wavelength (in meters) for a wave with a wave speed of 26.2 meters/ second and a period of 16.5 seconds.
432 meters
In which direction does the surface current move in relation to the wind in the Southern Hemisphere?
45 degrees to the left
Examine the accompanying table. Calculate how much less water is contained in saturated air at a polar location with a temperature of -10°C compared to a tropical location with a temperature of 40°C
45 grams
The density of pure water reaches its maximum density, or plateaus, at an approximate temperature of
4C
Using the T-S diagram shown above, if a water mass has a density of 1.0280 g/cm3 and a salinity of 35.3 ppt, what is its temperature?
5 degrees Celsius
Waves from separate sea areas move away as swell and produce an interference pattern when they come together. If Sea A has wave heights of 1.5 meters and Sea B has wave heights of 3.5 meters, what would be the height of waves resulting from constructive interference?
5 meters
How many wave energy sites are currently being developed around the world?
50
Imagine you are swimming in the open ocean at a location near the equator. Based on the following data, can you determine how deep you would need to dive to reach a water temperature of 19°C?Seawater temperature at the surface: 24°CThermocline at 300 and 1000 meters depths: 1°C decrease per 50 meters of depth
550 meters
The graph below details air temperature and relative humidity changes on a typical summer day in the Midwest. What would be the best time of day to water a lawn to minimize the evaporation of water from the surface of the grass, assuming the dew point temperature remained constant?
6 am
At what Beaufort number do well-marked streaks of foam begin to form on the ocean surface?
7
What is the pH of pure water?
7
At what Beaufort number does the sea surface begin to roll?
9
What percentage of an icebergs mass is below the waterline?
90%
Which of the following will cause the lowest air pressure at the surface?
A column of warm, less dense air
Which of the following best describes the Electrolysis Method for desalination?
A current is run through positive and negative electrodes in freshwater separated by semipermeable membranes from seawater
What results when two waves, in phase and with the same wavelength, interact?
A wave with an amplitude that is the sum of the amplitudes of the initial two waves.
Why are anticyclones not generally associated with clouds and rain?
Air in anticyclones undergoes warming as the air descends.
Why are cyclones generally associated with clouds and rain?
Air in cyclones undergoes cooling as it rises.
Look again at the map. Bear in mind that all the earthquake locations that are not inland are on a convergent plate boundary (subduction zone). Which of these statements is true?
All of the locations except 9 could produce tsunamis, because all are subduction zones involving at least one oceanic plate.
western intensification causes
All the above effects are the result of western intensification
Peru's residents are familiar with ENSO as it brings a warm current that reduces populations of which animal?
Anchovies
In locations where North Atlantic Deep Water, Antarctic Bottom Water, and Antarctic Intermediate Water are all found, how would they be arranged vertically in the water column?
Antarctic Bottom Water would be on the bottom, North Atlantic Deep Water would be in the middle, and Antarctic Intermediate Water would be on the top
Which of the following is the only current that completely circumscribes Earth?
Antarctic Circumpolar
In the figure above, which shows water molecules. Which label(s) indicate a covalent bond?
B
Using this image of the waters adjacent to the East Coast of the United States, match the correct letter to each of the following.
B: Cold core ring C: Color for warm water A: Color for cold water D: warm core ring
The following block diagram shows coastlines in the Northern Hemisphere that are influenced by coastal winds (not shown). Based on the flow of surface waters due to Ekman transport, identify the correct coastal wind direction in each diagram.
B: Wind blowing parallel to the coast and toward the bottom of the diagram A: Wind blowing parallel to the coast and toward the top of the diagram
Why are internal waves usually associated with a pycnocline?
Because a pycnocline is a boundary between two different water masses with different densities.
Why are these types of waves called internal waves?
Because they are internal to the ocean
Board surfers tend to avoid plunging breakers BECAUSE they break right at the shoreline.
Both the assertion and the reason are incorrect
The circular orbit of wave motion returns the floating object to its exact original position BECAUSE the half orbit in the trough is at the same velocity as the crest half of the orbit.
Both the assertion and the reason are incorrect.
The image below is a block diagram showing the Pacific Ocean during an El Niño event. Correctly match the letters with the corresponding features.
C: high atmostpheric pressure E: Pacific warm pool A: thermocline B: walker circulation cell (reversed direction) D: low atmospheric pressure
Carbon dioxide (CO2) combines with water (H2O) to form
Carbonic acid (H2CO3)
Which of the following is true for downwelling?
Carries dissolved oxygen to the deep sea floor
Waters along the California coast are colder than those along the mid-Atlantic shore of the U.S. because ________ occurs as surface waters move away from the coast.
Coastal Upwelling
Water with which of the following characteristics would be the densest?
Cold water with high salinity would be the densest.
Which conditions in the ocean promote high productivity?
Cold water, rich nutrients
The densest water found in the ocean has what characteristics?
Cold, salty, and deep
Is there relatively high or low seawater salinity in the low latitudes? What combination of factors explains the salinity at low latitudes?
Compared to high latitudes, there is higher salinity due to higher evaporation, but the salinity is slightly lower close to the equator due to an increase in runoff there.
The image below is a block diagram showing the Pacific Ocean during an El Niño event. Correctly match the letters with the corresponding features.
D: Antarctic Bottom Water C: Seasonally warm water B: Warmest water F: North Atlantic Deep Water E: Antarctic Intermediate Water G: Upwelling A: Thermocline and pycnocline
Use the map of Pacific and Atlantic Ocean currents shown below to correctly identify the following ocean currents and gyres.
D: Benguela Current C: Gulf Stream Current G: Peru Current A: Subpolar gyre B: Subtropical gyre E: California Current F: Canary Current I: Brazil Current H: Antarctic Circumpolar Current (West Wind Drift)
What does DART stand for?
Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis
Why do the lengths of the arrows in the Ekman spiral get shorter and shorter as you move deeper into the water column?
Deeper water moves at a slower speed due to friction.
There is a general trend of decreasing pH with increasing water depth in the ocean. What is the cause of this pattern?
Deeper, colder ocean water contains more dissolved carbon dioxide, which causes the pH to be lower
The prevailing westerly winds blow in which of the following directions in the Southern Hemisphere?
From northwest to southeast
Clouds are the gatekeepers of solar radiation at Earth's surface. They control how much temperatures vary throughout the day. Cloud cover during day reflects a lot of sunlight, and affects the daily maximum temperature. Cloud cover at night acts like a blanket, trapping any warmth close to Earth, and affects the daily minimum temperature. The weather on four different summer days is described below. On which day would you expect the greatesttemperature range? Which day would have the smallest range in temperature?
Greatest Temperature Range: -Clear skies during the day and clear skies at night Intermediate Temperature Range: -Clear skies during the day and cloudy skies at night -Cloudy skies during the day and clear skies at night Smallest Temperature Range: -Cloudy skies during the day and cloudy skies at night
The world's two main iceberg-producing regions are
Greenland and Antarctica
Which of the following currents contributes to the South Eastern United States being humid
Gulf Stream
The ion in sea water that serves as a buffer is:
HCO3-
The transfer of water between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the continents is known as the
Hydrologic cycle
Why does the wave height of a tsunami increase as the tsunami enters shallow water?
In shallow water, the energy of the tsunami must be contained within a smaller water column.
Besides where each type of wave is located, what is one of the most obvious physical differences between internal waves and surface waves?
Internal waves have a much longer wavelength as compared to the shorter wavelength surface waves.
When Laura illustrated the motion of the rubber duck in a swimming pool, what happened to the first duck?
It fell over.
What makes water a polar molecule?
It has a positive hydrogen side and a negative oxygen side
What is the Walker Circulation Cell?
It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the South Pacific under normal conditions.
A beaker contains a mixture of ice and pure liquid water at 0oC. What happens to the temperature of the liquid water as heat is added?
It remains constant until the ice melts, and then it begins to rise
Which swift-flowing surface current in a major subtropical gyre transports a large volume of warm water from the equator towards mid latitudes?
Kuroshio Current
Which of the following is the least frequent cause of a tsunami in recent centuries?
Meteorite impacts
Wave action creates and changes beaches drastically. The sand that makes up beaches is transported along the shoreline by the following wave action. Waves typically approach shorelines at an angle rather than head on. Waves that hit the shoreline are then refracted perpendicular to the shoreline. The change in direction of a wave once it hits the shoreline transports sand grains along the shore. Water flow along shorelines is described with the following terms. Longshore drift is the net flow of water along the shore that results from waves that refract along the shoreline. Longshore drift is parallel to the shoreline in one direction. The direction roughly points towards the same general direction as sand transport and incoming waves. Upstream refers to the direction opposite of longshore drift. Rip currents are strong surface currents. Water that refracts from the shoreline can return out to sea along the surface or along the ocean bottom. Rip currents are the retreating waves that return along the surface. This type of current can be very dangerous to unwary swimmers. The image below shows the movement of water and sand along a beach. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. Note that some labels may not be used.
Left: incoming wave directionTop: path of sand, beach driftBottom: upstream direction, longshore drift
Which of the following surface seawater salinity conditions would you predict for the following location: Latitude: 20°N Longitude: 180°W
Low surface seawater salinity due to precipitation
Which of the following surface seawater salinity conditions would you predict for the following location: Latitude: 60°N Longitude: 20°W
Low surface seawater salinity due to precipitation
Is there relatively high or low seawater salinity in the high latitudes? What combination of factors explains the salinity at high latitudes?
Lower salinity due to high precipitation and runoff and melting icebergs, and low evaporation due to cooler temperatures
Which of the following water masses has the highest average salinity?
Mediterranean Intermediate Water
Which of the following gases in the atmosphere is the most abundant percentage by volume?
Nitrogen
Circulation in the atmosphere is influenced by whether the planetary body is rotating or nonrotating. Sort the following features by whether they apply to a rotating Earth, a nonrotating Earth, or neither.
Non rotating: -all surface air flows toward the equator -one pair of convec cells Rotating: -equatorial and subpolar air -presence of trade winds -three pairs of convec cells Neither: -all surface air flows poleward -air sinks at equator
Palm trees associated with the subtropics can be found at the northern tip of the British Isles in Scotland. This is due to the transfer of heat from the
North Atlantic Current
At which latitude on the Earth is the speed of Earth's rotation the slowest?
North and South poles
Which wind belt curves to the right due to the Coriolis effect and blow from northeast to southwest?
Northeast trade winds
Earth rotates about its axis and all objects on its surface are constantly moving around in a large circle in space. The Earth's oceans and atmosphere are also spinning around with Earth at the same rate. The Coriolis effect may therefore seem predominant, but not all objects are influenced by it and not all the influences get noticed. Which of the following are influenced by Coriolis effect.
Ocean currents Helicopter, on a flight
On an annual basis which of the following fluxes between reservoirs of the hydrologic cycle is the largest?
Ocean to atmosphere
We might expect to encounter brackish ocean surface water
Off the coast of Washington and Oregon
Which ocean is associated with most tsunamis?
Pacific Ocean
Water in the atmosphere exists as a liquid, solid, and gas. The gas phase, water vapor, has an incredibly important role in atmospheric processes. As a result, there are several key ideas related to the content of water vapor in air. Saturation, relative humidity, and dew point are all measures of it: Saturation is the maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold at a given temperature; hotter air can hold more water vapor compared to cold air. Relative humidity is the percent of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of water vapor that the air could hold at saturation. The dew point is the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor, for a given content of water vapor in the air. Dew point is used to determine the temperature at which clouds and precipitation will occur. A higher dew point temperature indicates a greater quantity of water vapor in the air. Changing the temperature or the water vapor content of air can each affect these properties. When temperatures rise, the amount of water required to reach saturation goes up and the evaporation rate also increases, affecting the relative humidity and dew point.Therefore, a small difference between the air temperature and dew point temperature indicates saturated air.Furthermore, the larger the difference between measured air temperature and dew point temperature, the lower the relative humidity. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. This indicates that relative humidity must change with air temperature. Imagine two packages of air with different temperatures, but the same amount of water vapor.The package with a lower temperature is saturated with water vapor, so it cannot hold any more water vapor. The relative humidity is 100%.If the second package of air is about 5°C warmer, this package can hold about twice as much water vapor as the first before it is saturated, meaning the relative humidity is about 50%. Dew point can be described as the temperature that air will have to cool to be saturated with water vapor.Again, imagine two packages of air. This time the packages have the same temperature but different quantities of water vapor. The first package has a low water vapor content, so the dew point is lower than the package with the greater water vapor content Let's begin by comparing the conditions at three different cities: Phoenix, AZ; Bismarck, ND; and Tampa, FL. Refer to the accompanying table showing temperature and dew point temperature data for each city and use this information to determine which location each of the following statements applies to.
Phoenix, AZ- This city has the lowest relative humidity.- City where the water vapor in the air is furthest from the saturation point. Bismarck, ND- This city has the highest relative humidity.- City where the water vapor in the air is closest to the saturation point.- This city has the lowest quantity of water vapor in the air. Tampa, FL- This city has the greatest quantity of water vapor in the air.
Which type of breaker has a curling crest that moves over an air pocket?
Plunging breaker
Based on the characteristics, what is the name of the wind belt being described as cold, dry winds generally from the east?
Polar easterlies
A boundary or belt characterized by cold deserts occurs in which of the following regions?
Poles (90 degrees)
Polar high pressure occurs in which of the following regions?
Poles(90 degrees)
Which of the following is a direct method for measuring surface currents?
Propeller flow meter
Which of the following is a layer of rapidly changing density?
Pycnocline
Which of the following methods are used to measure ocean surface currents directly?
Radio-transmitting float bottle
Which of the following best describes the Distillation Method for desalination?
Saltwater is boiled and the water vapor is passed through a cooling condenser, where it condenses as freshwater
Which of the following best describes how scientists help the public prepare for an earthquake event?
Scientists cannot predict when exactly an earthquake will occur, but they can identify tectonically active areas that are likely to produce earthquake activity and let the public know they are in an earthquake-prone area
Where is the wave power plant shown in the SmartFigure video located?
Scotland
Which of the following best describes the Freeze Separation Method for desalination?
Seawater is frozen and thawed multiple times, with the salts washed from the ice between each thawing
The deepest and densest water mass in the world ocean is formed in the
Southern Ocean
Which of the following is responsible for 90% of the deaths associated with hurricanes?
Storm surge
Which type of breaker forms when the ocean bottom has an abrupt slope?
Surging breaker
How does the location of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) change over time?
The ITCZ migrates south of the equator in Northern Hemisphere winter and north of the equator in Northern Hemisphere summer.
The same waves break against both headlands and in nearby bays, but their energy is different BECAUSE wave reflection causes the distribution of wave energy to change between them.
The assertion is correct, but the reason is incorrect.
Ocean waves are not considered body waves BECAUSE they transmit energy through the upper part of the ocean near the interface between the atmosphere and the ocean.
The assertion is incorrect, but the reason is corre
The main cause of rogue waves is theorized to be an extraordinary case of destructive wave interference BECAUSE rogue waves are the suspected cause of many of the approximately 1,000 sinkings that occur each year.
The assertion is incorrect, but the reason is correct
What is refraction?
The bending of waves due to a change in wave velocity
What is the relationship between wave base and wavelength?
The depth of the wave base is one-half the wavelength of the waves
Which of the following best defines temperature?
The direct measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance's molecules
What would you expect weather to be like on the eastern coast of Australia if the western coast of South America were experiencing unusually warm, wet weather?
The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually dry weather
Why does wave height increase as waves enter shallow water?
The energy of the wave must be contained within a smaller water column in shallow water.
Which of the following best defines heat?
The energy transfer from one body to another due to a difference in temperature
If Earth rotated in the opposite direction, how would global atmospheric circulation be affected?
The global wind belts would blow in the opposite east-west direction.
Which attributes of the water molecule arise from the unique bend in its geometry?
The hydrogen end has a positive charge, and the oxygen end has a negative charge.
How does the inclination of Earth's axis change over the course of a year?
The inclination of Earth's axis does not change.
The thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by
The insulating nature of ice itself
What is the wave base?
The lower limit of wave-induced motion in water.
Why do ocean waves bend around headlands?
The waves are moving more slowly just in front of the headland, causing the waves to bend.
Which statement accurately describes the interaction between a water molecule and sodium chloride as it dissolves?
The negative oxygen end of the water molecule is attracted to the positive sodium ion.
What causes wave refraction?
The part of a wave in shallow water slows down, causing the wave to bend and line up nearly parallel to the shore.
Jet streams are fast-moving streams of air high above Earth's surface. A divergence or convergence in the jet stream above a high- or low-pressure center can drive the actions of these pressure centers. If the air in the jet stream is converging or diverging faster than the air at the surface is moving out or in, the driving force of the jet stream is compensated by an increase in surface winds. A jet stream generally diverges above a low-pressure (warm) center. However, at Earth's surface, air converges at a low-pressure center. If the divergence of the jet stream is greater than the convergence of air at the surface low-pressure center below it, what will happen to the surface winds?
The surface winds will likely get stronger
In a severe warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), fisheries' productivity on the west coasts of the Americas is dramatically reduced. Which stage of ENSO would come just before the fisheries' collapse?
The thermocline deepens in eastern boundary currents of the Pacific Ocean subtropical gyres.
As you have learned, there are six stages in the development of a middle-latitude cyclone. The cross-sectional images below depict each of the six stages in the development of a middle-latitude cyclone. Apply your knowledge of how air masses and fronts interact to create a cyclone by matching the image with its corresponding description of the stage in the life cycle that image represents. Apply the "yes" or "no" answers to the questions in the orange boxes. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. Note that some labels need to be reused as no target should be left blank.Middle-latitude cyclones are large, low-pressure regions that move from west to east across the United States. Cyclone formation occurs in six stages: A front develops between two different air masses (warm and cold) that are moving parallel to the front but in opposite directions. Because the fronts are simply moving along side each other, they do not produce high winds. Eventually, a large wave develops in this front. The air moving along the front then begins to rotate, and the cyclonic circulation is established. This happens as the warm air moves north and attempts to override the cool air moving south. The cool air generally moves faster than the warm air and begins to lift the warm air. This is called occlusion. Occlusion often means that any storms associated with the cyclone intensify and people should seek shelter. The occluded front continues to develop as the warm air is displaced by the cool air. The cyclone eventually dissipates once this process is complete.
The top three boxes pointing towards the map will be 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The bottom two boxes pointing upwards will be 4 and 5.The top box asking in YES OR NO will be 6.The bottom boxes asking in YES OR NO will be 7 and 8.Now, 1 - Front develops 2 - Wave develops 3 - Cyclonic circulation established 4 - Occlusion begins 5 - Occluded front developed 6 - No 7 - Yes 8 - No
What two factors explain why the prevailing westerlies blow toward the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and the southwest in the Southern Hemisphere?
The two factors are the direction of circulation in the Ferrel cell and the Coriolis effect.
What triggers a wave traveling across the ocean to finally release its energy?
The wave begins to interact with the sea floor as it moves into shallower water.
What is an interference pattern?
The wave pattern produced when two or more waves interact.
Why are water molecules in a gas phase able to move rapidly and independently of each other?
There are no hydrogen bonds between water molecules in a gas phase, so each water molecule acts as an individual.
Which of the following is a layer of rapidly changing temperature?
Thermocline
Will Sumatra experience another tsunami like the destructive one of December 2004?
This is likely, because Sumatra is near many ocean trenches.
What depth does Argo floats collect data?
Upper 2,000 meters
________ waves also known as side-to-side waves.
Transverse
In which layer of the atmosphere is all weather generated?
Troposphere
Why do ships at sea tend not to notice tsunamis?
Tsunamis in deep water have small wave height and long wavelength
Which of the following is true of surface water circulation near Antarctica?
Two circumpolar currents dominate it, one current that moves water to the east and one current that moves water to the west.
What are tropical cyclones called in the western North Pacific Ocean?
Typhoons
Why does the water molecule have polarity?
Water is geometrically bent to give one side, or pole, a positive charge and the opposite side a negative charge
Why is water able to dissolve salt?
Water molecules are polar and are attracted to the electrically charged ions that form salts.
How does water move as waves pass?
Water moves in a circle in the same direction as wave movement.
Which of the following best describes the Reverse Osmosis Method for desalination?
Water on the salty side of a semipermeable membrane is pushed under high pressure through the membrane to the freshwater side
How does wave amplitude change with depth in water?
Wave amplitude decreases as depth increases.
Which of the following statements about wave period is most accurate?
Wave period is the inverse of wave frequency.
How does wave refraction at headlands affect deposition and erosion?
Wave refraction at the headland increases erosion at the headland and causes deposition in adjacent bays.
What does the term "in phase" refer to?
Waves in phase have identical wavelengths and are aligned peak-to-peak and trough-to-trough
While you are playing Frisbee in the surf zone with another person, your friend watches while sitting on the beach nearby. After a while, you look up at the beach and realize you are no longer directly in front of your friend, who remained stationary on the beach all the while—you are still in the surf zone, but 30 to 40 yards from where you started. What is the correct reason for this movement?
Waves were coming at the shore at an angle. The longshore current moved downstream to that angle and pushed the Frisbee players that direction.
How are wave period and wavelength related?
Waves with shorter periods have shorter wavelengths.
Which of the following generates most ocean waves?
Wind blowing across the surface
Why does upwelling occur along the west coast of South America under normal conditions?
Winds moving westward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the west; deep water rises to replace water driven westward
What caused the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004?
a 9.2-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia in the Java Trench
What is an anticylone?
a center of high atmospheric pressure
What is a cyclone?
a center of low atmospheric pressure
What common office item is used in this video to demonstrate internal waves?
a desktop ocean
What is a tsunami?
a series of water waves that travel away from a fault in all directions at high speed
The thermocline is
a steep temperature gradient in the ocean that separates deeper cold water from warmer upper water
warm ocean currents
are warmer than the surrounding water
Rogue waves are created along the "Wild Coast" off the southeast coast of ________, where the Agulhas Current flows directly against large Antarctic storm waves.
africa
The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the __________.
albedo
As a whole, the pH of surface waters of the ocean is slightly
alkaline
Surface ocean currents
are driven by winds, are influenced by coriolis effect, Form large rotating gyres in the major ocean basins
The principal reason that oil and water do not mix, even when shaken, is that oil molecules
are nonpolar whereas water molecules are polar
Which areas of Earth experience the most precipitation?
areas near the ITCZ
Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year?
at the equator
The basic building blocks of all matter are called
atoms
In the Northern Hemisphere, September 23 is known as ________.
autumnal equinox
The tendency of all free-moving objects, the wind and fluids to be deflected from their expected path due to Earth's rotation is called the Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect is most apparent in the path of an object moving longitudinally (north-south). According to the Coriolis effect, all freely moving objects are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere because of the counterclockwise rotation of Earth and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to Earth's clockwise motion. Latitude indicates the position north or south of the Equator. This can be from 0° (equator) to 90° north or south (the poles). Earth's rotational speed decreases with an increase in latitude while the Coriolis effect increases. The Coriolis effect is zero at the Equator. For example, when a plane flies above the equator, it would continue moving without any deflection from its normal course. However, if the plane flies even a little away from the equator, the plane's path will be deflected. This deflection increases toward the poles. Ideally, objects have to travel a long distance for the Coriolis effect to be noticeable; for example, the projectiles from long-range guns on a battleship and the path of artificial satellites.Click to review a real world scenario of the coriolis effect.Click the back arrow to return to the exercise. When a ball is thrown in a stationary position, there is very little deflection in its path due to Coriolis effect, far too small for you to notice. But if the ball is thrown in motion, it will be deflected. You will relate the concept of the Coriolis force to a game of catch. The two-dimensional figure shows a game of catch played on a merry-go-round by nine children (the image is viewed from the South Pole). The alphabet A-H indicates the positions of eight children on the merry-go-round with the nineth child in the center. The arrows show the direction of rotation of the merry-go-round, which moves with a constant speed, moves with a constant speed causing a shift of 45∘∘. Assuming a child sitting in the center attempts to throw the ball directly to child D, which child will likely catch the ball?
c
The depth at which calcite dissolves rapidly in the ocean is called the
calcite compensation depth or CCD
Which of the following currents contributes to the South Western United States being arid?
california current
Latent heat is the quantity of heat gained or lost as a substance undergoes a
change in state
Which of the following is the most abundant negatively charged component of seawater?
chloride
What shape is formed by a parcel of water when a wave passes through it?
circle
Calcite-secreting organisms such as __________ and __________ live in the ocean's sunlit surface waters and form the basis of most marine food webs
coccolithophores; foraminifers
A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n) ________.
cold front
What process turns the turbine that generates the electricity in a wave power plant?
compressed air
On an annual basis which of the following fluxes between reservoirs of the hydrologic cycle is the smallest?
continent to ocean
What type of plate boundary are most tsunamis associated with?
convergent plate boundaries
Downwelling can result from
converging surface currents
In which direction must the merry-go-round be pushed to simulate the Coriolis effect on Earth?
counterclockwise
During winter months, monsoon winds over the Indian Ocean
flow from land to sea and are dry
The salinity curve for high latitudes shows ________ salinity at the surface and ________ salinity at depth. Whereas, the salinity curve for low latitudes shows ________ salinity at the surface and ________ salinity at depth.
decreased; increased; increased; decreased
Deep ocean currents are driven primarily by
density differences
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
down, and in a clockwise direction
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
down, and in a counterclockwise direction
Which method would be most appropriate for directly measuring the flow rate of the Gulf Stream?
drift bottles
When would you expect the low-pressure cell over the North Pole to be most developed?
during the Northern Hemisphere winter
Salinity is expressed in
parts per thousand
Equatorial currents that are part of the subtropical gyres flow ___. Equatorial counter currents between the gyres flow ___
east to west; west to east
The California Current is an example of which of the following types of currents?
eastern boundary curren
Which direction do ocean currents in the South Pacific move under El Niño conditions?
eastward
The area in the enclosed rectangle in the false-color map of sea surface temperatures is an example of which of the following features?
eddies
Subatomic particles with a negative charge are called
electrons
If all the water in the ocean was evaporated and only the solid salt was left behind, how much salt would there be?
enough to form a layer about 500 feet thick that covers all of Earth
Which process in the hydrologic cycle is most effective at increasing ocean salinity on a global scale?
evaporation
The majority of tsunami are caused by underwater ________.
fault movement
What type of force is the Coriolis effect?
fictitious
Which of the following best describes a plunging breaker?
forms on moderately sloped shorelines to create curling crests
cool ocean currents
generally flow from high latitudes towards the equator
Which type of current flow moves in a circular path around a subtropical convergence, reflecting Ekman transport, gravity, and the Coriolis effect?
geostrophic circulation
Rapidly changing salinity with depth is called the
halocline
What drives Hadley cell circulation?
heating from the Sun
Freezing seawater at ______ leads to increases in salinity and density.
high latitudes
Water can pile up a short distance above a container's rim due to
high surface tension
The pH scale is a measure of the __________ ion concentration of a solution.
hydrogen
What causes water's density to decrease when it freezes?
hydrogen bonds
Why are dissolved oxygen concentrations higher in the surface ocean than in the deep ocean at both high and low latitudes?
photosynthesis by phytoplankton
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
in a clockwise direction
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
in a counterclockwise direction
Where are Hadley cells found?
in the atmosphere near the equator
How does air move near the top of a cyclone?
in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere
For a deep-water wave, when the period increases, wavelength ____ and speed ____.
increases, increases
Tidal movement, turbidity currents, wind stress, and even passing ships at the surface create ________ waves.
internal
Human consumption of which of the following components of seawater helps prevent goiter?
iodine
What type of bonding does table salt have?
ionic
Maps that show pressure variation are used to investigate air movement. Air flows from regions of high pressure to low pressure, and will move faster if there is a greater pressure difference. Isobars, or lines of constant pressure, are used to illustrate pressure changes in a selected region.Lines that are closer together indicate that the pressure is changing rapidly. Conversely, lines that are more spaced out indicate that the pressure is changing gradually.Wind blows from high to low pressure; therefore, more closely spaced bars indicate stronger winds.The numbers on the lines indicate the air pressure that was determined from barometric readings taken at weather stations. Review the accompanying map. It shows the air pressure distribution across the United States on May 24, 2010, at 4:00 PM CDT. Use this information to rank the wind speeds in the following states from highest to lowest. Before ranking, calculate the change in air pressure in each state by finding the difference between the minimum and maximum isobar line in each state. If there is not an isobar line in a state, find the nearest lines on either side of it.
kansas, Idaho, Ohio, Washington
Deep-water currents move ________ volumes of water and are much ________ than surface currents
larger; slower
As water boils, it reaches a plateau where all energy added is used to break intermolecular bonds in water, not increase its temperature; this is called
latent heat of vaporization
What is the overall effect of the stronger than normal trade winds typical of La Niña conditions?
lowering of the South Pacific ocean temperature from normal conditions
When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night?
march and September
What is a typical tsunami wavelength?
more than 200 kilometers (124.3 miles)
Van der Waals forces are relatively weak interactions that exist between electrically ________ molecules because of the molecules' uneven distribution of charge.
neutral
Subatomic particles with a neutral charge are called
neutrons
Most of the year, and most of the time, the movement of sediment and water (longshore current) along the California coast is from __________.
north to south
The North Atlantic Current is an example of which of the following types of currents
northern boundary current
the subtropical gyres
play a large role in climate
Typically, the United States is influenced more by ________ air masses during the winter and more by ________ air masses during the summer.
polar; tropical
Hydrogen bonds form between neighboring water molecules because of
polarity of water molecules.
Protons have which type of electrical charge?
positive
A person experiences a popping feeling in their ears during the takeoff or landing of an airplane or while driving on steep mountain roads due to changes in the ________ of the atmosphere.
pressure
The correct order of substances from most acidic to most alkaline is
rainwater, pure water, seawater
there is an indirect relationship between the speed of a wave and its height. The total energy of a wave is the sum of its kinetic and potential energies: Total energy = Kinetic energy + Potential energy Kinetic energy is the energy of motion and increases with the speed of the wave. Potential energy is the energy of gravitational pull on the wave. It increases with the height of the wave. The law of conservation of energy requires that the total energy of the wave stays constant when it changes shape. As a result, an increase in kinetic energy requires a decrease in potential energy, and vice versa. The images below illustrate the height of different waves in the open ocean. Arrange the pictures of the waves by their kinetic energy. Rank from highest kinetic energy to lowest kinetic energy.
rank the highest as the shortest picture, and the lowest as the tallest
Earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by __________.
re-radiation of solar energy from Earth's surface back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation
Why are dissolved oxygen concentrations lowest from just below the surface to a depth of about 1000 meters in both high and low latitudes?
respiration by fish and other marine organisms
deep ocean current
result from changes in water density (due to temperature and salt content)
Areas of low pressure tend to have ______ air and _____ weather.
rising, stormy
Dissolved ions enter the ocean through which of these processes?
river discharge
Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a:
sea breeze.
The covalent bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a water molecule form as a result of the
sharing of electrons between the atoms
The pH of surface seawater is usually 8.1. That means the water is
slightly basic
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
The West Wind Drift is an example of which of the following types of currents
southern boundary current
If a surfer wishes to have a really long ride, what type of wave should he or she look for?
spilling breakers
The largest loss of life from a hurricane is usually due to:
storm surge.
What disturbing force is responsible for most ocean waves that eventually break on shore?
storm-generated winds that blow across the surface
Which of the following statements comparing covalent and hydrogen bonding is correct?
stronger covalent bonds occur within water molecules and weaker hydrogen bonds form between molecules
The observation of a hill of water within all subtropical gyres is an example of which of the following
subtropical convergence
The Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky, directly overhead along the Tropic of Cancer, during the:
summer solstice.
Why are dissolved oxygen concentrations higher in the surface ocean at high latitudes than the surface ocean at low latitudes?
surface water temperatures are colder at high latitudes
What type of breaker would pose the most danger to people playing or swimming in the surf zone?
surging breakers
A tsunami may result from
tectonic activity on the seafloor.
The density (mass per volume) of most liquids increases as the __________ is lowered.
temperature
The states of matter in which water exists is primarily determined by
temperature
Which of the following best defines heat capacity?
the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by 1 degree Celsius
Wave refraction is
the bending of waves
What is the wavelength?
the distance between consecutive wave crests or troughs
What is the wave height?
the distance between the highest and lowest part of the wave
What is the crest of a wave?
the highest part of the wave
What is the trough of a wave?
the lowest part of the wave
Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of West Coast hurricanes is that __________.
the ocean water near the U.S. coast does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes
The El Niño Southern Oscillation can best be described as
the relationship between sea surface temperature and changing atmospheric pressure.
The Principle of Constant Proportions states that
the relative concentrations of the major ions in seawater does not change
The Coriolis effect is caused by __________.
the rotation of Earth
What causes western intensification?
the rotation of Earth from west to east
What causes the three different types of breakers?
the steepness of the beach slope
What two features are many of Earth's deserts associated with?
the subtropical highs and cool ocean currents found along the west coasts of continents
What is the Southern Oscillation?
the swapping of high and low pressure zones in the South Pacific under El Niño conditions
What is the wave period?
the time it takes for one wavelength of a wave to pass a particular point
What is the December solstice?
the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly away from the Sun
What is the June solstice?
the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun
the ekman spiral is caused by
the wind and the Coriolis effect.
In terms of temperature for high-latitude regions, which layer is absent?
thermocline
_____ is caused by density changes near the poles and equator
thermohaline circulation
How are tsunamis generated?
through displacement of the seafloor under water
As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds always are deflected:
to the right of their original direction.
You just got your pilot's license, and you want to fly your plane from point A to point B. You remember from your oceanography class that you must account for the Coriolis effect when aiming for your destination. Where must you aim to land at point B?
to the west of B
Prevailing winds are those that persistently travel from one direction to another. This can be shown graphically with a wind rose diagram. In general, line length indicates the frequency of wind coming from that direction such that the longest spoke of the rose diagram indicates the prevailing wind direction. For example, the image below show the southeast trade winds in eastern Australia with a dominant southeasterly direction as described by their name. The longest line shows the SE trade wind is dominant compared to the other lines, which represent different wind directions during the year that are weaker. One of the most important considerations when designing an airport is ensuring that when planes take off, they face into the wind and that the runway is oriented to match the prevailing wind direction. Note that a runway would be built along a direction that can be described by two complimentary (180° opposite) directions (e.g., N-S would indicate a runway that runs along a straight line oriented north and south). Examine the accompanying wind rose diagram. Based on the information shown, determine the correct answers to the following questions.
top left red box: the direction planes will travel when taking off long middle red line box: the correct orientation for the runway left blue box: the location on earth where you may find a wind rose like the one shown here
Cyclones can form where low-pressure centers develop at Earth's surface. Air moves inward towards the low pressure center. Air flow generally occurs in a counterclockwise fashion in the Northern Hemisphere, and the opposite direction (clockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere. To sustain low-pressure centers, these systems require an air flow divergence higher in the atmosphere (e.g., in the jet stream). This air flow divergence creates a place for the rising low-pressure air. Similarly, an anticyclone, which forms as air moves clockwise out from a high-pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere, can be sustained by a convergence higher in the atmosphere, which would feed air into this high-pressure center, preventing it from being depleted. (An anticyclone moves counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.) The accompanying image of the eastern portion of the United States illustrates the airflow conditions involved in the creation of cyclones and anticyclones. Match the labels to their correct location.
top three blanks left to right: south, convergence aloft, divergence aloft bottom three blanks left to right: north, anticyclonic flow, cyclonic flow
In the figure above, depicting a hypothetical wind direction in an ideal world. The iceberg broke off from the Greenland Ice Sheet and floated into the ocean. Under the prevailing wind conditions, in which direction would the iceberg be pushed?
toward D
Refer the figure above. In which direction would the entire surface current underneath the Greenland iceberg be expected to travel?
toward E
Equatorial currents are driven by the
trade winds
The wind belt(s) with strong, reliable, generally easterly winds is (are) the:
trade winds.
Under which conditions are droughts and wildfires common in Australia?
under El Niño conditions
Surface waters are pushed away from land and replaced by nutrient-rich bottom water through
upwelling
Diverging surface waters are areas of ________ and ________ productivity.
upwelling; high
The most common liquid on planet Earth is
water
The time it takes one full wave to pass a fixed position is called the ________.
wave period
The longer the ________, the faster a deep-water wave travels.
wavelength
The largest wind-generated waves tend to be associated with the
westerlies
Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
westerlies is the answer westerlies summer solstice vernal equinox autumnal equinox ecliptic
The Agulhas Current is an example of which of the following types of currents?
western boundary current
When will perfect destructive interference occur?
when 2 waves that are 180 degrees out-of-phase interfere
Which of the following is not one of the reasons why water is considered a universal solvent?
when the ions separate, they become attracted to identically charged water molecules
When will perfect constructive interference occur for waves that are in phase and moving at the same velocity?
when waves with identical wave lengths interfere
When does a violent storm become a hurricane?
when wind speeds exceed 118 kilometers per hour (73 miles per hour)
