Oceanography MDC MIDTERM Online
continental collision zone
Along which of the following would you NOT expect to find active volcanic activity
The percentage of solar radiation directed to Earth absorbed by the clouds and the atmosphere is about:
25%
avg salinity of sea water
3.5%
Globally, air descends (sinks toward the surface) at ______.
30 degrees latitude and 90 degrees latitude (the poles)
mountains
Both convergent plate boundary & divergent plate boundary
the magnetic pattern on the seafloor.
Vine and Matthews determined that new ocean floor was being produced at ocean ridges by examining:
to explain the causes and effects of observable natural phenomena
What best describes the principle goals of science
subduction zone
What best describes the tectonic setting of the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest?
Organic molecules could be created from the materials contained in Earth's early ocean and atmosphere
What did Stanley Miller's 1952 experiment demonstrate?
They are all associated with zones of earthquakes.
What do all plate boundaries have in common?
trenches
What feature is NOT associated with the crest of the mid-ocean ridge
oxygen
What gas was not abundant from Earth's early atmosphere
The ocean water rises up to form a mound based on the mass of the seamount
What happens to the ocean water over a seamount on the ocean floor when measured from a satellite
The oceanic plate will be subducted
What happens when an oceanic and continental plate converge?
Clay
Which of the following is the most abundant component by weight for deep-ocean sediments?
abyssal clay
Which of the following is the most fine-grained sediment
Where is the salinity of ocean surface waters highest?
about 25 degrees north or south of the equator
most gradual change in slop found at
abyssal plain
h20
accounts for most of earth's greenhouse effect
nebular hypothesis:
all bodies in the solar system formed from a giant gas cloud
Mid-ocean ridges are rises occupy a small portion of the deep ocean basin, only around 10%. (a) True (b) False
b. false
Most of the future deep-ocean research being planned by oceanographers involves sending human pilots and observers to the greatest ocean depths in vehicles like Alvin, Trieste, and Shinkai-6500, (a) True (b) False
b. false
The deepest portions of the ocean are part of the relatively narrow features called submarine canyons. (a) True (b) False
b. false
A __________ is used to determine the shape position of boundaries. (a) hypsometric curve (b) seismic survey (c) bathymetry (d) biology
b. seismic survey
sediments produced by plants and animals in the sea
biogenous
True
At divergent plate boundaries, only shallow focus earthquakes can be found.
The oceanic climate region(s) in the majority of strong cyclonic storms are produced is indicated by the number __________. (a) 1 (b) 1 & 2 (c) 2 (d) 3 (e) 3 & 4
B. 1 & 2
The westerlies wind belt is the area corresponding to ___________. (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4 (e) 5
B. 2
Which of the following atmospheric constituents has the greatest ability to absorb heat (a per mole basis)?
chlorofluorocarbons
age of seafloor.
Confirmation of seafloor spreading was supported by the:
Each hydrogen atom charges its single electron with electrons in the oxygen atom. Which type of bond is this?
covalent bond
lithosphere is composed of...
crust and topmost portion of outer mantle
hypsometric curve
cumulative plot of area versus depth
T or F: Vertical mixing of surface and deep seawater takes place in the low latitudes.
false
T or F: Waves always travel in the same direction as the prevailing current, even far offshore.
false
T or F: When a tsunami reaches a coastal area, it is always represented by a single rapid surge of water toward the shore, resembling a suddenly occurring high tide (which is why they are misnamed "tidal waves").
false
T or F: in the high latitudes, there is a prominent and well-developed thermocline.
false
surface tension of water increases as ______ decreases
density
When the earth cooled, the layers of the earth separated based on...
density differences.
rift valley
depression along ridge axis
CCD
depth at which all carbonate is in solution
lysocline
depth at which carbonate begins to dissolve
The process of purifying seawater by removing most of its dissolved substances is called ____.
desalination
gloria
device used for side-scan sonar
Production of first free oxygen in the atmosphere caused organisms to...
die off.
geostrophic flow
driven by gravity and modified by the coriolis force
jet stream
fast moving easterly flowing air mass
Which of the following terms describes a rapid change in salinity with depth?
halocline
magnetic north pole
hasnt remained close to the geographic north pole
divergent boundary:
hydrothermal vents, rift valley
The Red sea has ___ water because of large amounts of ____.
hypersaline; evaporation
tropic of cancer
located at 23.5 degrees N
Areas of vertical air movement (very little surface wind motion) are found on the Earth at latitudes ___________. (a) 15° and 30° (b) 45° and 60° (c) 5° and 85° (d) 0° and 30° (e) 45° and 55°
D. 0° and 30°
The wind belt that corresponds to the doldrums is labeled ___________. (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6
D. 5
False
Earthquakes are common along fracture zones.
Greenland
Eric the Red discovered this land and later started the colony
The best climate models indicate that Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 5oC in the last 100 years.
False
The greenhouse gas that accounts for most of the natural greenhouse effect in Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide.
False
The trade winds can be found between 30o and 60o N and S latitudes.
False
True
Fast-moving spreading ridges tend to be more gently sloped than slow-moving ridges.
all the above.
Fossils found in sediments can be used to:
plants lived near the poles, but continents have drifted to current locations
Fossils of ancient polar plants are currently found near the equator because the:
accounts for most of Earth's greenhouse effect
H2O
In an atom, the nucleus is composed of ___ and ___, and the ____ orbit very quickly around the nucleus.
Protons; neutrons; electrons
The doldrums can be found at the Equator
True
Sound travels more slowly in the SOFAR channel than in the areas of the ocean immediately above and below it.
True
The angle at which direct sunlight strikes the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.
True
Which of the following statements about the movement of waves in a wave train is false?
waves pick up speed as they move out of the "sea" area where they are generated
major force bringing continental sediments to the open ocean is
wind
Hurricanes are associated with _____ atmospheric pressure and spin _____ in the northern hemisphere.
low; counterclockwise
Rising warm air is associated with regions of ____ atmospheric pressure caused by thermal ____.
low; expansion
pynocline
rapid change in density with slight change in depth
halocline
rapid change in salinity with slight change in depth
what is most frequently used to investigate sediment and rock layers of the sea floor?
sound waves
Ninety percent of people who die in hurricanes are killed by ____.
storm surge
Legend holds that the "horse latitudes" derived their name from sailors who, in desperation, abandoned horses overboard because the sailors were ____.
stuck at the boundary between the trades and the westerlies
deep ocean trenches are associated with
subduction zones
Which of the following are valid names of boundaries between global wind belts or at the poles?
-the doldrums -the polar high -the polar front -the horse latitudes
A cold front is likely to have heavy, brief showers associated with it. (a) True (b) False
A. true
A mole of methane is able to absorb much more heat than one mole of carbon dioxide. (a) True (b) False
A. true
convergent
An ocean trench is associated with which type of plate boundary?
71%
Approximately what percentage of the surface of the Earth is covered by oceans?
magnetic sea floor 'stripes' are symmetric with respect to the mid-ocean ridge
As a tool, paleomagnetism is a piece of modern evidence that has helped support plate tectonics by showing that
There are ___________ main wind bands in each hemisphere of the Earth. (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (e) 6
B. 3
The compound __________ is an anthropogenic greenhouse gas. (a) CFCs (b) CO2 (c) H2O (d) N2O (e) O3
B. CO2
A hurricane is a very strong high-pressure system. (a) True (b) False
B. False
A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold. (a) True (b) False
B. False
The trade winds can be found between 30º and 60º N and S latitudes. (a) True (b) False
B. False
The __________ is the prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes. (a) Intertropical Convergence Zone (b) Trade Winds (c) Tropic of Cancer (d) Tropic of Capricorn (e) Westerlies
B. Trade Winds
The gas or gasses that is (are) increasing atmospheric concentration relative to other gases in the atmosphere annually is (are) ___________. (a) carbon dioxide (b) chlorofluorocarbons (c) methane (d) nitrous oxide (e) ozone
B. chlorofluorocarbons
Which of the following atmospheric constituents has the greatest ability to absorb heat on a per mole basis? (a) carbon dioxide (b) chlorofluorocarbons (c) methane (d) ozone (e) water vapor
B. chlorofluorocarbons
An iceberg is a variety of sea ice. (a) True (b) False
B. false
The best climate models indicate that Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 5ºC in the last 100 years. (a) True (b) False
B. false
The greenhouse gas that accounts for most of the natural greenhouse effect in Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide. (a) True (b) False
B. false
Tropical cyclones never leave the tropics. (a) True (b) False
B. false
Winds are named for the direction ___________. (a) in which they are going (b) from which they are coming
B. from which they are coming
Fluids (including air) move from ___________ pressure to ___________ pressure. (a) low; high (b) high, low
B. high; low
Coccolithophores Diatoms
Which of the following are microscopic, single-celled floating algae that accumulate to form biogenous sediment?
a series of islands, shallow banks, and deep basins
Which of the following best describes a continental borderland?
The 'prebiotic soup' of the primitive oceans provided a likely environment for live to develop. Early organisms likely evolved into more complex organisms. Primitive life likely existed without the need for oxygen. As life developed on Earth, it began to significantly change Earth's environment.
Which of the following ideas about the development of life on Earth make scientific sense?
a volcanic arc
Which of the following is associated with a subduction zone?
crest of the mid-ocean ridge
Which of the following is associated with divergent plate boundaries on the seafloor?
andesitic volcanoes
Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-continental convergent plate boundaries?
volcanic island arcs
Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-oceanic convergent plate boundaries?
Radiolarians Diatoms
Which of the following organisms are responsible for the creation of siliceous ooze?
They are transform plate boundaries
Which of the following statements about fracture zones is FALSE?
They are found only off of mountainous coasts
Which of the following statements about submarine canyons is FALSE?
The ocean floor is spreading apart, and new seafloor is forming. The igneous rock of the ocean floor preserves Earth's existing magnetic field as the rock cools. The polarity of Earth's magnetic field experiences reversals.
Why does the sea floor have a striped pattern of magnetic anomalies that is symmetric with respect to the mid-ocean ridge?
With respect to incoming solar radiation, radiation emitted back into the atmosphere has:
a longer wavelength.
Of the following statements about deep-ocean currents, which are true?
-Deep ocean currents are important regulators of global climate -deep ocean currents are initiated by downwelling of cold, dense water near Antarctica in the north atlantic ocean -deep ocean circulation is often referred to as thermohaline flow -deep ocean currents contain water that is high in oxygen -the volume of water involved in the downward movement of deep ocean water currents is equal to the flow of 100 Amazon-sized rivers
Of the following statements about ocean waves, which ones describe wave steepness?
-If wave steepness ever exceeds a 1:7 ratio, then the wave breaks -Wave steepness is defined as wave height divided by wavelength
How does the Coriolis effect cause the atmosphere to move around high and low pressures in the northern hemisphere?
-The coriolis effect causes air to move counterclockwise around low pressure -the coriolis effect causes air to move clockwise around high pressure
Of the following offshore ocean conditions, which ones would likely produce spilling breakers?
-a gently sloping sandy bottom -a gently sloping rocky bottom
Of the following statements about the pH of seawater, which are true?
-additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is getting into the ocean, overwhelming the natural carbonate buffering system -the pH of seawater averages about 8.1 and ranges from about 8.0 to 8.3 -in a natural state, the carbonate buffering system protects the ocean from getting too acidic or too alkaline
If you were an explorer stranded in the Arctic Ocean, what methods could you use for creating fresh drinking water?
-catch and melt fresh falling snow -boil sea water; catch and condense the water vapor -take seawater and freeze and melt it several times to purify it -heat sea ice that formed a long time ago
Which of the following techniques can be used to measure the salinity in seawater?
-evaporate the water sample, and weigh the amount of solids that precipitate out -pass electrical current thru the water
Surface winds in the tropics generally blow _____.
-from the east -toward the equator
Of the following statements about ocean waves, which are true?
-ocean waves can be classified by the depth of water in which they move -ocean waves can be classified by the way in which they form -ocean waves can be described by their period, wavelength, and height
Of the following surface currents, which ones flow from south to north?
-peru current -kuroshio current -the gulf stream
Of the following statements about seawater salinity, which are true?
-seawater salinity averages 35 0/00 -seawater salinity averages 3.5% -the two most common dissolved components in seawater are sodium and chloride
Of the following gyres, which ones flow in a counterclockwise direction?
-south atlantic subtropical gyre -indian ocean subtropical gyre -northern hemisphere subpolar gyres -south pacific subtropical gyre
The west wind drift (antarctic circumpolar current) is a part of which of the following subtropical gyres?
-south atlantic subtropical gyre -indian ocean subtropical gyre -south pacific subtropical gyre
Of the following properties of water, which are caused by the unusual geometry of water molecules?
-water has cohesion and surface tension -water has the ability to dissolve just about anything -water molecules form hydrogen bonds -water molecules have polarity -snowflakes form six-sided crystals
Of the following physical changes that occur to waves as they move into shallow water, which are true?
-wavelength decreases -wave height increases -wave steepness increases -the waves touch bottom
Of the following surface currents, which ones flow generally from west to east?
-west wind drift -north pacific current -equatorial counter current
The earth's crust solidified about...
4.5 billion years ago.
Worldwide, the SOFAR channel is located at an approximate ocean depth of:
1000 meters.
tropic of capricorn is located at
23.5 degrees s latitude
In deep water, a wave with a wavelength of 60 meters and a wave height of 6 meters will have orbital motion down to a depth of ____.
30 meters
Since 1750, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased by almost:
30%.
In the open ocean, average seawater salinity is ____.
35 0/00
earth developed the first ocean about...
4 billion years ago.
The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth's oceans and landmasses is about:
50%.
Ekman transport is an average path of motion that, under ideal conditions, is at ____ to the winds direction
90 degrees
abyssal hill
A small, rounded, submerged volcanic hill that rises less than 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) above the sea floor is called ________________
Earth rotates eastward at about ___________. (a) 1,000 miles per hour (b) 500 miles per hour (c) 55 miles per hour (d) 10,000 miles per hour (e) impossible to say without more information
A. 1,000 miles per hour
A hurricane contains more energy than has been generated in the US over the last twenty years. (a) True (b) False
A. True
Winds blowing from the north in the southern hemisphere will appear to ___________. (a) be deflected toward the east (b) be deflected toward the west (c) circulate counterclockwise (d) circulate clockwise (e) travel in a straight line
A. be deflected toward the east
When viewed from above, tropical cyclones rotate ____________ in the southern hemisphere. (a) clockwise (b) counterclockwise (c) either way -- it depends on the individual storm (d) only northern hemisphere tropical cyclones rotate
A. clockwise
A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n) ___________. (a) cold front (b) high pressure system (c) low pressure system (d) occluded front (e) warm front
A. cold front
The addition of water vapor to dry air causes the density of the air to ___________. (a) decrease (b) increase (c) stay the same
A. decrease
contours at around 2000 meters in depth.
All continents fit together with the least number of overlaps and gaps when the continents are matched along:
Which of the following is a consequence of global warming?
All the above are consequences of global warming.
evidence of constant ocean salinity.
All the following provide evidence for continental drift except:
When air masses come together, ___________. (a) very little weather activity results (b) a tropical cyclone forms (c) one air mass may ride up and over the other and form a front (d) one air mass may ride up over the other and form a storm surge (e) none of the above
C. one air mass may ride up and over the other and form a front
The layers of the atmosphere are separated from each other based on ___________. (a) hydrogen content (b) oxygen content (c) temperature (d) density (e) pressure
C. temperature
atmospheric compound with greatest infrared absorption rate
CFCs
latitude
Climate distribution on Earth is primarily controlled by:
The deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to another is called the
Coriolis effect
An agreement amongst 60 nations to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions is called the ___________. (a) Coriolis Protocol (b) IPCC (c) Keating Conference (d) Kyoto Protocol (e) United Nations Environmental Programme
D. Kyoto Protocol
Compounds call __________ contribute to ozone layer depletion. (a) CFCs (b) CO2 (c) H2O (d) N2O (e) O3
D. N2O
Tropical cyclones are also called ___________. (a) willi-willis (b) typhoons (c) hurricanes (d) all of these are the same things, just with different names
D. all of these are the same things, just with different names
True
Deep focus earthquakes are often associated with deep-sea trenches.
True
Deep-sea trenches are found at convergent plate boundaries.
isostasy
Differences in height between continental crust and oceanic crust are explained by:
The strongest winds on Earth are ___________. (a) 1 & 2 (b) 1 & 3 (c) 2 & 3 (d) 2 & 4 (e) 3 & 4
E. 3 & 4
The area of the globe (latitude) that is characterized by falling air masses and little precipitation is ___________. (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6
E. 6
Which of the following is not a consequence of global warming? (a) droughts in prime agricultural areas (b) increasing hurricane frequency (c) melting of glacial ice (d) shifts in the world-wide distribution of plant and animal communities (e) All of the above are consequences of global warming.
E. All of the above are consequences of global warming.
The Trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge in a region known as the ___________. (a) Bermuda Triangle (b) Subtropical Highs (c) Subpolar Lows (d) Subtropical Lows (e) Doldrums
E. Doldrums
Extra-tropical cyclones typically form ___________. (a) near the meteorological equator (b) near the thermal equator (c) at high latitudes, at the north or south pole (d) at high latitudes, at the junction between the polar cells and the Ferrel cells (e) In the tropics
E. In the tropics
A hurricane is a very strong high pressure system.
False
A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold.
False
An iceberg is a variety of sea ice.
False
The ocean floor keeps regenerating itself
How is it that the ocean floor is so much younger than the ocean itself?
by turbidity currents
How is most sediment transported from the continental shelf out to the continental rise
15 meters
How much wider is the Atlantic Ocean today than when Christopher Columbus sailed?
continental shelf, slope, and then rise
If you could walk out away from the shore across the sea floor on a passive continental margin, what is the order of provinces you would cross?
grain size
In sediments, what does the Wentworth scale describe?
A muddy lagoon A sandy beach At the base of the continental slope
In which environments would you find lithogenous sediment
An agreement amongst 60 nations to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions is called the:
Kyoto Protocol.
Newfoundland
Leif Eriksson was the first to land here
made up of material derived from pre-existing rock material
Lithogenous sediments are
False
New crust is formed at trenches and old crust is subducted at ridges.
the ancient geographical locations of ocean basins previous ocean circulation patterns the climate on Earth millions of years ago past catastrophes, such as major extinction events movement of the ocean floor
Marine sediments provide valuable clues about which of the following Earth history events?
sea surface elevation, which varies depending on the shape of the underlying sea floor.
Measurement of ocean floor bathymetry from satellite relies on what?
Tests
Microscopic shells that create biogenous sediment on the sea floor are called
increases in proportion to the distance.
Moving from oceanic ridge to oceanic trench, the thickness of the lithosphere:
produced only in burning hydrocarbons
N2O
Was free oxygen present in Earth's primordial atmosphere?
NO
sending sound through the water and determining the time required for it to return to the ship
Ocean depths are routinely determined by
thermal contraction of hot lithosphere.
Oceans become deeper moving away from ridges due to:
Siliceous ooze on the sea floor indicates cool surface water above Calcareous ooze on the sea floor indicates warm surface water above
Of the following statements about surface water temperature above biogenous sea floor deposits, which is/are true?
a chimney that emits a column of hot, cloudy water formed from the precipitation of metal-rich minerals
Of the following, which is the best description of a sea floor hydrothermal vent?
growing, shrinking
Overall, the Atlantic ocean basin is ______, and the Pacific ocean basin is ______.
In which ocean do most tsunami occur?
Pacific Ocean
divergent boundaries
Plate boundaries where new oceanic crust is being added are called
The zone ocean where sound can travel extremely long distances is called the:
SOFAR channel.
The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the"
Saffir-Simpson Scale.
abyssal plains
Sediments deposited by the process of suspension settling produce the main sediment found on _______
True
T/F; All the continents could fit into the space occupied by the Pacific Ocean.
the Western European world realized the vastness of Earth's water-covered surface
The Age of Discovery was the time period in ocean exploration history when...
divergent
The East Pacific Rise is associated with which type of plate boundary
earthquakes
The best map to use to locate the world's plate boundaries is a map that shows the worldwide location of
parallel to and symmetric about ocean ridges.
The seafloor magnetic pattern is be best described as:
False
The magnetic field of the Earth reverses itself each time magma erupts at a mid-ocean ridge.
False
The magnetic north pole has remained very close to the geographic North Pole through all of geologic time.
the Pacific Ring of Fire subduction zones and associated faults very deep ocean water depths volcanic arcs and active continental margins narrow or no continental shelves
The majority of ocean trenches are associated with
radiometric methods of determining the age of rocks
The most accurate scientific estimation of Earth's age is based on
adaptations to different environmental conditions
The naturalist, Charles Darwin, who is credited with developing the theory of evolution by natural selection, suggested that the changes organisms display through time were the result of
4 billion years ago
The oceans are believed to have formed about
False
The oldest rocks are located at mid-ocean ridges.
to have it accumulate faster than it dissolves
The only way for siliceous ooze to be preserved in the ocean is
True
The relatively young age of the seafloor supports the idea that subduction must take place.
isostatic adjustment
The vertical movement of crust to accommodate additional weight or removal of weight is called
Iceland
This was the first new land conquered by the vikings
A cold front is likely to have heavy, brief showers associated with it.
True
A hurricane contains more energy than has been generated in the US over the last twenty years
True
A mole of methane is able to absorb much more heat than one mole of carbon dioxide.
True
Ocean crust is destroyed at deep sea trenches Ocean crust is created at mid-ocean ridges
What is true in regards to ocean crust?
along the mid-ocean ridge beneath warm surface waters
Where are most modern-day calcareous oozes found in the ocean?
around the margins of the Pacific Ocean
Where is the Ring of Fire located?
abyssal plains continental shelves, rises, slopes deep ocean trenches
Where would lithogenous sediments of any size be found
In deep sea trenches not far offshore on the continental shelf
Where would you expect to find LARGE amounts of lithogenous sediments
along passive continental margins
Where would you expect to find well developed continental shelves
The DSDP drilled to the center of Earth and confirmed that the outer core is composed of liquid iron-nickel material.
Which of the following statements about the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) is FALSE?
The magnetic pole wobbles, but stays near the geographic pole.
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between Earth's geographic and magnetic poles?
They result from successive lava flows
Which of the following statements concerning graded bedding deposits is FALSE?
The asthenosphere is composed of outer mantle material.
Which of the following statements is true of the asthenosphere?
The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the topmost portion of the outer mantle
Which of the following statements is true of the lithosphere?
Ferdinand Magellan
Who began the voyage of the Victoria, the first vessel known to circumnavigate the Earth
It accommodates spreading of a linear ridge system on a spherical Earth
Why does the mid-ocean ridge have a zigzag appearance?
In relation to ocean circulation, a gyre is _____.
a large, circular-moving loop of surface water
the density of seawater increases with ____ in temperature and ____ in salinity.
a decrease; an increase
Of the following waves, which one has the deepest wave base?
a wave with a 2-meter wave height and a wavelength of 1000 meters
The most gradual change in slope in the ocean can be found at the __________. (a) abyssal plain (b) continental rise (c) continental shelf (d) deep ocean trench (e) mid-ocean ridge
a. abyssal plain
Which of the following is not characteristic of the deep sea basins? (a) Canyons (b) Plains (c) Hills (d) Seamounts (e) Guyots
a. canyons
calorie
amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree c
Of the following statements about the tilt of earths axis, which one is true?
an increase in earths tilt would cause colder winters and warmer summers.
Panthalassa
ancient precursor of the pacific ocean
sediments derived from preexisting rocks
are called lithogenous
Intertropical Convergence Zone
area where air rises close to the equator
itcz
area where air rises close to the equator
turbidites
associated with deep sea fans
ice rafting
associated with glacial deposits
new crust is formed..
at ridges
Most processes that affect the oceans salinity occur ____.
at the ocean surface
abyssal plains are more extensive on the floor of which ocean?
atlantic
4 principle oceans:
atlantic, arctic, indian, and pacific
Due to the very harsh environment, few organisms are found in association with hydrothermal vents. (a) True (b) False
b. false
The Baltic sea has ___ because of ____.
brackish water; large amounts of runoff.
heterotrophic organisms...
breakdown organic molecules to get energy
passive continental margins:
broad continental shelf, shallow coastal waters, thick sediment accumulation, and very little volcanic earthquake activity
Only about __________ of the Earth's surface projects above sea level. (a) 51% (b) 17% (c) 29% (d) 94% (e) 74%
c. 29%
The average width of the continental shelves is about __________ kilometers (__________ miles). (a) 16 (10) (b) 35 (22) (c) 67 (42) (d) 100 (160) (e) 800 (1,280)
c. 67 (42)
Active continental margins are located __________. (a) along the east coast of the United States (b) along the east coast of South America (c) on the west coasts of both North and South America (d) all around Africa
c. along the west coast of North and South America
A measurement of ocean depth and seafloor topography is __________. (a) hypsometric curve (b) seismic survey (c) bathymetry (d) biology
c. bathymetry
Directly seaward of the continental shelf is a more steeply sloping region called the __________. (a) abyssal plain (b) continental rise (c) continental slope (d) mid-ocean ridge (e) trench
c. continental slope
The most rapid change in slope in the ocean is found at the __________. (a) abyssal plain (b) continental slope (c) oceanic trench (d) submarine canyon (e) volcanic seamount
c. oceanic trench
An analysis of the sequential breaking of transatlantic telephone and telegraph cables led to a better understanding of __________. (a) the distribution of submarine trenches (b) the composition of sediments (c) turbidity currents (d) hydrothermal vent communities (e) the size of the ocean
c. turbidity currents
primordial atmosphere:
carbon dioxide, water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and methane.
Western intensification is ______.
caused by the rotational center of a gyre being located to the west of the ocean basins geographic center, thus causing more water to flow within a narrower "channel"
active continental margins:
chains of islands, deep-sea trenches, thin sediment accumulation, volcanic and earthquake activity
evaporation
change from liquid to gas
sublimation
change in phase from solid to gas
biogenous sediment
coccolithophores, diatomaceous ooze, foraminiferans, silaceous ooze, stromatolies
A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n)
cold front.
The Peru Current is a _____ current that flows ____.
cold; north
The California current is a ____ current that flows ____.
cold; south
continental margin consists of:
continental rise, continental shelf, continental slope, and submarine canyon.
crest of mid-ocean ridge is associated with
convergent boundaries on the seafloor
deep sea trenches are found at
convergent plate boundaries
island arc
convergent plate boundary
oceanic trench
convergent plate boundary
sediments with extraterrestrial origin
cosmogenous
Low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate:
counterclockwise.
The islands bordering the deep-sea trenches __________. (a) result from a series of quiet, continuous basaltic eruptions (b) are accumulations of sediments on the margins of the trenches (c) are formed from the activities of coral and other organisms (d) are explosive volcanoes that emit andesite lavas
d. are explosive volcanoes that emit andesite lavas
The landscape of the seafloor would best be described as __________. (a) a featureless plain (b) a smooth descent with the deepest portions farthest from land (c) similar in rock type, sediment thickness, and erosional processes to those found on the land (d) containing ridges, trenches, seamounts, and other features different from those found on land
d. containing ridges, trenches, seamounts, and other features different from those found on land.
All of the following are considered part of the continental margin except the __________. (a) continental rise (b) continental shelf (c) continental slope (d) fracture zone (e) submarine canyon
d. fracture zone
New lithosphere is produced in association with __________. (a) deep-sea trenches (b) fracture zones (c) hydrothermal vents (d) mid-ocean ridges (e) transform faults
d. mid ocean ridges
continental rises formed by
deep sea fans
Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and:
differences in the heat capacity of ocean and land.
mid-atlantic ridge is an example of
divergent boundary
hydrothermal vents
divergent plate boundary
rift valley
divergent plate boundary
Satellites are used to map the ocean floor because they __________. (a) are unaffected by surface weather (b) can cover areas where ships have not produced surveys (c) can "see" large areas of the seafloor at one time (d) the shape of the ocean surface itself reflects large features on the seafloor below (e) All of the above statements are correct
e. all of the above
submarine canyons most likely formed by
erosion of turbidity currents
Vikings
established temporary settlement in North America
Which of the following increases the salinity of seawater?
evaporation of seawater
factors that increase salinity
evaporation, high temperature, low latitude, sea ice formation
T or F: For an equal quantity of solar radiation hitting all parts of earth, the "solar footprint" is larger at the equator than it is in high latitudes.
false
T or F: Subtropical gyres flow counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
false
T or F: The heat capacity of water is lower than that of most other substances.
false
Balboa
first European explorer to Pacific ocean
Eratosthenes
first determination of earth's circumference
Which of the following statements about el nino events is false?
fishing along peru and ecuador is much better
doldrums
found at equator
phosphate nodules
found on continental shelf
upwelling
from bottom to top
astronomical bodies oldest to youngest:
galaxy, solar system, planet
nebula
gaseous and dusty space cloud
high energy environments are most likely to contain large particles such as
gravel
cold front is likely to have
heavy, brief showers
There is no pycnocline in _____ latitude regions because _____.
high-; the water column is uniformly cold and dense
heat capacity of water is ______ than other liquids
higher
When ice forms from seawater, the remaining seawater will have a:
higher salinity
Which type of bond holds adjacent water molecules together?
hydrogen bond
sediments produced as a result of chemical reactions in seawater
hydrogenous
A geostrophic current is one that (ideally) flows ______.
in a circular path around the central "hill" of a gyre
deepest part of the ocean is located...
in a trench off the coast of Japan. (Mariana trench)
old crust is subducted...
in trenches.
differences in height between continental crust and oceanic crust are explained by..
isostasy
Of the following factors, all increase the amount of energy in waves except ____.
increasing water vapor content in the air
The doldrums refer to the same region as the:
intertropical convergence zone
covergent boundry:
island arc, oceanic trench
free oxygen is important because..
its necessary for photosynthesis
What accounts for all the unique properties of water?
its unique geometry causes the water molecule to have a resulting electrical polarity.
used to change temp of a substance
latent heat
climate distribution on earth is controlled by...
latitude.
Magellan
led voyage that first circumnavigated the globe
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
nitrogen
Ptolemy
mapped world with Roman knowledge showing latitude and longitude
bathymetry
measurement of ocean depth and seafloor
new lithosphere is produced in association with
mid-ocean ridges
newest rocks are located in..
mid-ocean ridges
fast-moving spreading ridges are_____ than slow-moving ridges.
more gently sloped
coccoliths
most chalk is made from
BOTH con. and div.
mountains and volcanoes
radiolarian oozes from
near equator
sediments found on continental margins
neritic
Continental crust is thicker and less dense than..
oceanic crust
most rapid change in slope is found at
oceanic trench
volcanic island arcs are ______ covergent plate boundaries
oceanic-oceanic
Which of the following statements about orthogonals is false?
orthogonals are the same thing as wave crests
Of the following situations involving orthogonals, which one involves the highest energy?
orthogonals that become more closely spaces as they approach the shore
asthenosphere is composed of..
outer mantle material
crust
outermost portion of the Earth, basalt and granite
study of changes in the character of oceans due to geographic changes
paleoceanography
study of magnetism over geologic time
paleomagnetism
seafloor magnetic pattern is best described as...
parallel to and symmetric about ocean ridges
wentworth scale
particle size classification
The type of breaker that is best for surfing is called a _____ breaker.
plunging
water is ______ molecule
polar
decrease salinity
precipitation, river input
westerlies
prevailing wind pattern at temp latitudes
Westerlies
prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes
Trade Winds
prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes
trade winds
prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes
A layer of rapid change of ocean density with depth is called a ______.
pycnocline
rapid change in ocean density with change in depth
pynocline
silica is contained in
radiolarians
principle of constant proportions
relative concentration of seawater ions doesn't change
chemical composition of ocean water has...
remained constant throughout geologic time.
Burning of fossil fuels is chemically similar to
respiration
mantle
rich in ferromanesian minerals, between crust and core
depression along ridge axis
rift valley
density of seawater is affected by
salinity and temp
difference between ocean and sea?
sea contains more shallow water, is salty, smaller than ocean, and may be enclosed by land or currents.
at divergent plate boundaries, only ______ earthquakes can be found.
shallow focus
from coast to mid-ocean ridge:
shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plain
Areas of high atmospheric pressure (at earths surface) generally experience what kind of conditions?
sinking air, with dry, clear weather
texture refers to
size and shape of sediment particles
ph of the ocean
slightly alkaline
Surface ocean currents are caused by _____, whereas deep currents are the result of ____.
surface wind belts; density differences
The oceans deep water is initially formed at the ____ and in _____ regions.
surface; subpolar
Which of the following statements about swell is false?
swell must have large wave height
Which of the following currents does not belong with the others as part of the same gyre?
the Agulhas current
Which of the following statements about the Coriolis effect is false?
the Coriolis effect tends to increase or decrease the speed of moving objects
carbon dating is used to determine...
the absolute age of a rock or fossil
radioactive isotopes can be used to determine...
the absolute age of the rock
confirmation of seafloor spreading was supported by...
the age of the seafloor
A moving object traveling northward in the northern hemisphere is deflected toward ______.
the east
What is a wave refraction?
the bending of waves as they approach a coastline
Which of the following statements about the physical characteristics of waves is false?
the depth at which the orbital motion ceases is called the still water level
At the time of the vernal equinox, the sun is directly overhead at _____.
the equator
Which of the following is an example of a western boundary current of a subtropical gyre.
the kuroshio current
The fact that ice is less dense than water- which causes ice to float- is due to ____.
the molecular packing of bulky ice crystals
going from the equator to the north pole, what are the names of the wind belts you would cross?
the trade winds, the prevailing westerlies, the polar easterlies
The "midnight sun" is a phenomenon observed in Northern Hemisphere polar regions only when the sun is directly above ___.
the tropic of cancer
which of the following is not a physical change that a wave experiences as the wave reaches shallow water?
the wavelength increases
Most ocean waves are caused by ____.
the wind
idea of subduction is supported by....
the young age of the seafloor
oceans become deeper moving from ridges due to...
thermal contraction of hot asthenosphere.
rapid change in ocean temp with change in depth
thermocline
abyssal hills are only visible in pacific ocean because
they are higher in pacific ocean
In subtropical gyres, western boundary currents have all of the following characteristics except _____.
they are relatively wide
ekman transport
transport of water to left or right of wind direction
T or F: A land breeze flows from land to sea.
true
T or F: Air typically moves from regions of high atmospheric pressure toward regions of low atmospheric pressure.
true
T or F: In shallow water waves, wave speed increases with increased water depth; in deep water waves, wave speed increases with increased wavelength.
true
T or F: In water vapor, there is no interconnectedness of individual water molecules (no hydrogen bonds).
true
T or F: Internal waves are usually found in areas where there is a strong, permanent pycnocline.
true
T or F: Internal waves can sometimes exceed heights of 100 meters (330 Feet) and can carry submerged objects to great depths.
true
T or F: Latent heat can be absorbed or released only as water undergoes the process of changing state (Ex: as water changes from a liquid to a solid).
true
T or F: Rogue waves are often caused by constructive wave interference.
true
T or F: The east australian current is the western boundary current of the south pacific subtropical gyre.
true
T or F: The surface winds of an anticyclone in the southern hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.
true
T or F: the major wind belts of the world are generated by the lowermost portion of earths atmospheric circulation cells.
true
seismic survey
used to determine shape and position of boundaries
PDR
uses frequency sound waves to measure ocean depth
The atmospheric circulation cell in the equatorial south pacific created by the movement of air between high- and low- pressure regions is called the ______.
walker cell
What is one of the first indications that an el nino event may be occurring?
warm water from near australia migrates toward south america
The East Australian current is a ____ current that flows ____.
warm; south
The Gulf Stream is a _____ current that flows ____.
warm; south
downwelling
water coming from top to bottom
Based on the equations for determining the speed of shallow-water waves, which one of the following variable is necessary to determine the speed of shallow-water waves?
water depth
many unique properties of water come from the fact that
water is a polar molecule
The atmospheric component that contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming on Earth is:
water vapor
The temperate regions are characterized by:
westerly winds.
A maritime tropical air mass is likely to be:
wet and warm.
Sea ice forms by seawater freezing; icebergs form ______.
when glacial ice on land falls off into the ocean
Of the following physical properties of the atmosphere, which are true?
-air always moves from high-pressure regions toward low-pressure regions -the air temp. is warmer near earths surface than in the upper part of the troposphere -low pressure at the surface is associated with rising air (movement away from the surface) -warm air holds more water vapor than cool air
Of the following statements about the transfer of heat on earth, which are true?
-air currents move warmer air from the tropics to higher latitudes -water vapor in the air carries latent heat with it, which is released in other areas -ocean currents move warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes
Of the following statements about the density of seawater, which are true?
-an increase in salinity increases seawater density -a decrease in temperature increases seawater density
Of the following statements about the density of freshwater and the formation of ice, which are true?
-ice is less dense than liquid water, which is why ice floats -as the temp. of water decreases from 4C to 0C, its density decreases -water at 2C is less dense than it is at 4C -waters max density is at 4C
Of the following statements about waters latent heat and changes in state, which are true?
-in the solid state, all water molecules are connected by weak (hydrogen) bonds -in the vapor state, there are no weak (hydrogen) bonds between water molecules -Latent heat allows water to transfer energy from one place to another -when water evaporates, its latent heat of evaporation absorbs heat -when water vapor condenses and forms a liquid, its latent heat of condensation releases heat to the environment; this is what powers hurricanes
Of the following conditions, which are related to strong El Nino events?
-increase in sea surface temp. and destruction of coral reefs in the eastern pacific ocean -higher sea levels in the eastern pacific ocean associated with warmer water -increased abundance of hurricanes in the eastern pacific ocean
Of the following statements about subtropical gyres, which are true?
-the centers of all subtropical gyres are associated with high atmospheric pressure -globally, there are five subtropical gyres -the rotation of each subtropical gyre causes a "hill" of water to pile up within it -the western boundary current of all subtropical gyres is intensified (it is fast, narrow, and deep) -there are four main surface currents in each subtropical gyre
Of the following statements about the doldrums, which are true?
-the doldrums are an area of low atmospheric pressure -this is also known as the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) -the doldrums are the boundary between the northeast trade winds and the southeast trade winds -the doldrums are found as a global belt along the equator -there is usually little wind but a lot of rain associated with the doldrums
Of the following processes, which increases the salinity of seawater?
-the formation of sea ice -evaporation
Of the following characteristics or features, which are associated with midlatitude storms, such as those that originate in the north pacific ocean between 40 and 60 degrees latitude?
-the prevailing westerlies -the jet stream -contrasting air masses -the polar front
Of the following statements about ocean waves, which ones describe wave period?
-the time it takes for one full wavelength to pass a given point -the inverse of wave frequency
Of the following characteristics or features, which are generally related to the formation or movement of hurricanes?
-the trade winds -warm ocean water -warm air with lots of water vapor -waters latent heat of condensation
Of the following statements about the trade winds, which are true?
-the trade winds are strong and steady winds, hence the name. -the trade winds are found between about 5 and 30 degrees north or south latitude -the trade winds generally blow from the east to the west
Of the following statements about seawater properties in high and low latitudes, which are true?
-there is a thermocline in low latitudes -there is a halocline in low latitudes -there is a halocline in high latitudes. -there is pycnocline in low latitudes
Of the following statements about tsunami, which are true?
-tsunami have a very long wavelength, so they travel at very high speeds (speed of a jet plane) -tsunami are undetectable by ships in the open ocean -the tsunami warning system uses seismic waves and deep ocean pressure sensors to detect tsunami -at the coast, a tsunami looks like a suddenly occurring high or low tide, which is why they are misnamed "tidal waves"
Of the following events, which are capable of generating waves?
-uplift or downdropping of the ocean floor -a storm moving over the ocean surface -a rock falling into a still pond -an underwater landslide -human activities, such as a ship traveling across the ocean
Of the following currents, which ones are part of the south atlantic subtropical gyre?
-west wind drift -south equatorial current -benguela current -brazil current
Of the following locations, where would upwelling be expected to occur?
-where there is a sharp bend in a coastline -where there is a shallowly submerged sea floor obstruction, such as a tablemount -in areas of diverging surface currents,such as along the equator -in areas of offshore winds
Of the following statements about Ekman spiral and Ekman transport, which are true?
-within the ekman spiral, deeper water can move in a direction exactly opposite of the wind direction -The two factors that affect the ekman spiral are the wind direction and the Coriolis effect -because of the coriolis effect, surface waters move at an angle to the wind direction -connecting the arrows of water movement from the surface into deeper waters shows the spiral pattern -ekman transport is to the right of the wind direction in the northern hemisphere
The __________ is the area where air falls close to the equator. (a) Intertropical Convergence Zone (b) Trade Winds (c) Tropic of Cancer (d) Tropic of Capricorn (e) Westerlies
...
look at study guide
...
heat capacity of water is
1 calorie per gram per degree c
With respect to the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere, the amount of energy radiated back into space between 35ºN and 40ºS latitude is ___________.
A. About the same as the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere
An air mass is a large body of air with nearly uniform temperature, humidity, and therefore density throughout. (a) True (b) False
A. True
The angle at which direct sunlight strike the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed. (a) True (b) False
A. True
The doldrums can be found at the Equator. (a) True (b) False
A. True
The wavelength of energy radiated from the Earth back into the atmosphere is longer than the incoming solar radiation. (a) True (b) False
A. True
When air is heated, its density ___________. (a) decreases (b) increases (c) stays the same
A. decreases
Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and ___________. (a) differences in the heat capacity of ocean and land (b) differences in the latitudinal albedo (c) Ekman transport (d) latitudinal variations in the Coriolis effect (e) variations in incoming solar radiation over many years
A. differences in the heat capacity of ocean and land
Concerned individuals can reduce their personal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by doing all of the following except ___________. (a) install low flow plumbing fixtures (b) planting trees and increasing green space areas (c) purchase recycled products (d) reducing the area covered by pavement or structures (houses, garages, pools, decks, etc) in urban and suburban areas (e) use of compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of incandescent bulbs
A. install low flow plumbing fixtures
The doldrums refer to the same region as the ___________. (a) intertropical convergence zone (b) jet stream (c) subtropical jet stream. (d) subtropics. (e) trade winds
A. intertropical convergence zone
The Coriolis effect causes objects moving in the northern hemisphere to veer off course ___________. (a) to the right, or clockwise when viewed from above (b) to the left, or counterclockwise when viewed from above (c) in an upward direction (d) in a downward direction (e) They do not veer off course - they continue straight.
A. to the right, or clockwise when viewed from above
lithosphere that was thickened by mountain building lithosphere that was heated by hot asthenosphere lithosphere that was less dense
Based on the concept of isostatic adjustment, which of the following would result in the uplift of Earth''s surface?
best explains all available observations
Based on the scientific method, science supports the explanation of the natural world that....
depth of the ocean floor below sea level
Bathymetry involves the measurement of
calcium carbonate dissolves in seawater
Beneath the calcite compensation depth (CCD), what happens
volcanoes
Both convergent plate boundary & divergent plate boundary
Since 1750, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased by almost___________. (a) 10% (b) 20% (c) 30% (d) 40% (e) 50%
C. 30%
The circulation of winds in both hemispheres is arranged in the ___________, ___________, and ___________ cells. (a) Polar; Tropical; Subtropical (b) Southwesterly; Northwesterly; Southeasterly (c) Hadley; Ferrel; Polar (d) Equatorial; Polar; Latitudinal
C. Hadley; Ferrel; Polar
Hurricane Katrina, the most costly natural disaster to strike the United States, was a violent example of a(n) ___________. (a) an extra-tropical cyclone (b) a monsoon (c) a tropical cyclone (d) a tornado (e) a frontal storm`
C. a tropical cyclone
The pressure exerted by a column of air that extends from the top of the atmosphere to the surface of the earth is termed ___________ pressure. (a) hydrostatic (b) partial (c) air (d) atmospheric (e) gas
C. air
Low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate ___________. (a) at a 45º angle from the prevailing wind direction (b) clockwise (c) counterclockwise (d) to the left (e) to the right
C. counterclockwise
When ice forms from seawater, the remaining seawater will have a ___________. (a) darker color (b) decreased density (c) higher salinity (d) higher temperature (e) lower temperature
C. higher salinity
The dependable surface winds of the Earth centered at about 15° north and south latitudes are called ___________. (a) the westerlies (b) the northerlies (c) the trade winds (d) the doldrum winds (e) the ITCZ
C. the trade winds
Tropical cyclones tend to move ___________. (a) equatorward in both hemispheres (b) eastward and poleward in both hemispheres (c) westward and poleward in both hemispheres (d) poleward in both hemispheres (e) in completely unpredictable ways
C. westward and poleward in both hemispheres
warm; cool
Calcareous ooze is associated with ________ surface water conditions, and siliceous ooze is associated with ________ surface water conditions.
pattern of alternating magnetic polarity of seafloor rocks.
Continental drift was confirmed through the study of the:
The oceanic climate region that is characterized by sea ice coverage in the winter and open water (but cold) in the summer is indicated by the number ___________. (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (e) 6
D. 5
Winds generally moves across the United States ___________. (a) from north to south (b) from east to west (c) from south to north (d) from west to east (e) from high altitude to low altitude
D. from west to east
The boundary between two air masses is called a(n) ___________. (a) Hadley line (b) Bjerkens line (c) Hadley cell (d) front (e) ITCZ
D. front
Colder air moving over significantly warmer ocean surface water may produce ___________. (a) a cold front (b) a warm front (c) changes in coastal wind direction (d) increased coastal precipitation (e) sea smoke
D. increased coastal precipitation
The most abundant gaseous components of the Earth's atmosphere are ___________. (a) carbon dioxide and oxygen (b) nitrogen and hydrogen (c) nitrogen and carbon dioxide (d) nitrogen and oxygen (e) oxygen and carbon dioxide
D. nitrogen and oxygen
If you were standing on top of a high mid-Pacific island at 15° North latitude, from which direction would you expect the wind to come? (Hint: don't forget to consider the Coriolis effect!) (a) north (b) south (c) northwest (d) northeast (e) southwest
D. northeast
Hurricanes are an efficient way to ___________. (a) decrease salinity in affected estuaries (b) eradicate rainfall deficits (c) raise local sea level due to storm surge (d) redistribute heat from one area to another (e) remove old-growth coastal forests
D. redistribute heat from one area to another
According to the atmospheric circulation model developed in the text, air tends to ___________. (a) rise at 30° north and fall at 60° north (b) rise at 60° north and fall at 30° north (c) rise at 30° north and fall at 0° north (d) rise at 30° north and rise at 60° north (e) none of the above
D. rise at 30° north and rise at 60° north
The power for tropical cyclones comes from ___________. (a) static electricity (b) the condensation of warm, dry air (c) the Coriolis Effect (d) the condensation of warm, moist air (e) the U.S. Department of Energy
D. the condensation of warm, moist air
The Coriolis deflection is caused by ___________. (a) the wind-induced deflection of surface currents (b) the gravitational attraction of the sun (c) the combined gravitational attraction of the sun and moon (d) the rotation of the Earth on its axis (e) atmospheric pressure differentials
D. the rotation of the Earth on its axis
subduction zones.
Deep ocean trenches are associated with:
__________ is a component of the troposphere and protects Earth's surface from additional ultraviolet radiation. (a) CFCs (b) CO2 (c) H2O (d) N2O (e) O3
E. O3
The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the" ___________. (a) Coriolis Scale (b) Fujita Scale (c) Moh's Scale (d) Richter Scale (e) Saffir-Simpson Scale
E. Saffir-Simpson Scale
The __________ is the prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes. (a) Intertropical Convergence Zone (b) Trade Winds (c) Tropic of Cancer (d) Tropic of Capricorn (e) Westerlies
E. Westerlies
The meteorological equator ___________. (a) is also called the "thermal equator" (b) is usually located about 5° north of the geographical equator (c) represents the imaginary line of thermal equilibrium between hemispheres (d) is a place where surface winds converge (e) all of the above
E. all of the above
Which of these phenomena causes the least structural damage and loss of life during the passage of a tropical cyclone? (a) storm surge (b) flooding (c) wind (d) rainfall (e) low atmospheric pressure
E. low atmospheric pressure
Burning of fossil fuels is chemically similar to ___________. (a) autotrophic processes (b) chemosynthesis (c) metabolism (d) photosynthesis (e) respiration
E. respiration
Weather may be defined as ___________. (a) long-term temperature and rainfall trends (b) long-term humidity and precipitation trends (c) long-term changes in the composition of the atmosphere (d) short-term changes in the composition of the atmosphere (e) short-term, localized characteristics of the atmosphere
E. short-term, localized characteristics of the atmosphere
As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds are deflected ___________. (a) at a 45º angle form the original direction (b) at a 90º angle from the original direction (c) to the east of the original direction (d) to the left of the original direction (e) to the right of the original direction
E. to the right of the original direction
The atmospheric component that contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming on Earth is ___________. (a) carbon dioxide. (b) methane. (c) nitrous oxide. (d) ozone. (e) water vapor
E. water vapor
The temperate regions are characterized by ___________. (a) cold fronts (b) high pressure (c) easterly winds (d) trade winds (e) westerly winds
E. westerly winds
A maritime tropical air mass is likely to be ___________. (a) dry and cold (b) dry and warm (c) wet and cold (d) wet and the same temperature (e) wet and warm
E. wet and warm
at the mid-ocean ridge
In general, where would the youngest ocean floor be found?
Baffin Island
It is believed that Eric the Red may have discovered this area
False
Paleomagnetism confirms that, at particular times in the geologic past, Earth has had more than one magnetic north pole.
supercontinent 200 million years ago
Pangea
ancient precursor of the Pacific Ocean
Panthalassa
concentration of the particles in fecal pellets
Populations of microscopic marine organisms in ocean surface waters closely match their abundance in sediments on the ocean floor, even though it takes 10 to 50 years for an individual particle to sink to deep-ocean depths. What accounts for this pattern?
False
T/F; Because they tend to move downslope, most lithogenous sediments are deposited in abyssal plains.
False
T/F; Black volcanic beach sand is a type of hydrogenous sediment.
True
T/F; Pillow lavas (pillow basalts) indicate that molten lava came in contact with water and cooled very quickly.
True
T/F; The Andes Mountains, which are a tall mountain range along the west coast of South America, are associated with an active continental margin.
False
T/F; The calcite compensation depth (CCD) represents the depth where wave action ceases to form calcareous oolites.
True
T/F; The early oceans and atmospheres are thought to have come from inside Earth and were formed by a process called 'outgassing'
False
T/F; Turbidity currents are highly erosive and are thought to be responsible for the creation of deep-sea trenches
True
T/F; most lithospheric plates contain both oceanic and continental crust
True
T/F; the deepest spot in the ocean is deeper than Mt. Everest is high.
location
The GPS system is a tool used for determining surface
none
The Hawaiian Islands are associated with which type of plate boundary
moving over a hot spot.
The Hawaiian Islands are located where the Pacific plate is:
divergent boundary
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a:
transform
The San Andreas Fault is associated with which type of plate boundary?
a passive; a convergent-active
The continental margin of the U.S. Atlantic coast is ____________ continental margin, and the continental margin off the west coast of South America is _____________ continental margin.
nebular hypothesis
The cosmological model for the formation of the Sun and the rest of our solar system is called the
broader (wider)
The faster the rate of spreading at the mid-ocean ridge or rise, the _____ the underwater volcanic mountain range
continental slope
The steep transition zone between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep-ocean basin is called the _______________
fossil evidence, extinctions, and boundaries of sedimentary rock units
The subdivisions of the geologic time scale were based on
Near the poles, more energy is reflected back into space than is absorbed.
True
The wavelength of energy radiated from the Earth back into the atmosphere is longer than the incoming solar radiation.
True
Christopher Columbus made several trips across the Atlantic and discovered the 'new world'. Ferdinand Magellan's crew completed the first circumnavigation of the globe.
What happened during the Age of Discovery in Europe?
Neither subducts, instead; a mountain range forms
What happens when two continental plates converge?
levitation
What is NOT an example of sediment-transporting media
Density stratification has caused our Earth to be homogenous througout
What is a false statement concerning density stratification?
turbidity currents, which are initiated here and flow down submarine canyons a wide continental shelf
What is associated with a passive continental margin?
Convection in the liquid iron-nickel outer core generates a magnetic field
What is the main reason that Earth has a magnetic field?
The magnetic field is oriented vertical relative to Earth's surface at the south magnetic pole. The magnetic field is oriented horizontal (parallel) relative to Earth's surface at the magnetic equator. Earth's magnetic field has varying dips around the world that range from vertical to horizontal, depending on latitude. The locations of Earth's magnetic poles have moved through time and have even reversed in polarity. The magnetic field is oriented vertical relative to Earth's surface at the north magnetic pole.
What is true in regards to Earth's magnetic field
Outgassing is a direct result of density stratification Density stratification has caused Earth's internal structure to be layered Density stratification has caused the highest density material to be found at Earth's core The origin of Earth's oceans and atmospheres are a result of density stratification
What is true in regards to density stratification
They are oriented parallel to the mid ocean ridges
What is true in regards to sea floor magnetic anomalies
Continental crust is less dense than oceanic crust Continental crust is made of rock that is relatively light in color
What is true in regards to the Earth's crust
The oldest ocean crust is about 200 million years old and is located near an ocean trench.
What is true in regards to the age of the ocean crust?
The asthenosphere is a plastic layer that extends from the base of the lithosphere to a depth of about 700 kilometers. The asthenosphere is very hot and contains areas of partially molten rock
What is true in regards to the asthenosphere
Molten material will rise if it is less dense than the surrounding material. Molten material will sink if it is more dense than the surrounding material. Earth is layered based on density, with the highest density material located at the deepest depths beneath Earth's surfaces.
What is true in regards to the formation of a density-stratified Earth
The lithosphere of Earth is made up of both mantle and crust. Earth's internal layers can be described by their composition or by their physical appearance.
What is true in regards to the internal structure of the Earth
Turbidity currents are highly erosive and carve submarine canyons The material carried by turbidity currents is what builds deep-sea fans Turbidity currents move sediments down the continental shelf and the continental slope to be deposited on the continental rise Turbidity currents are episodic events (the only occur every so often, like a flash flood)
What is true in regards to turbidity currents?
The way the shapes of the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The distribution of fossil pieces. The pattern of similar mountain belts on different continents. Evidence of glaciers in areas that are now tropical.
What lines of evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support the concept of continental drifting?
density
What physical property determines the order of Earth's layers?
deposition of sediment by turbidity currents as deep-sea fans
What process is primarily responsible for the formation of the continental rise along the East Coast of the United States?
deposition by waves major climate changes, such as ice ages erosion by waves large fluctuations in sea level
What processes are involved in the formation of continental shelves?
tests of foraminifers radiolarian ooze
What sediments are considered biogenous
coatings of metal sulfides near black smokers manganese nodules
What sediments are considered hydrogenous
Biogenous oozes are created by underwater eruptions, which cover the sea floor with fine ash particles.
What statement about biogenous oozes is FALSE
Manganese nodules are a type of foraminifer.
What statement about manganese nodules is FALSE
direct visitation of the sea floor using satellite to measure the sea surface sending sound through water (sonar) recording many depths using a long cable
What techniques can be used to map the sea floor?
Wegener's proposed mechanism for movement was thought to violate the law of physics
What was the main reason scientists objected to Alfred Wegener's idea of continental drift?
Waves are seen to approach the beach at an angle.
What would be considered a scientific observation?
Plastic
Which best describes the physical property of the asthenosphere?
The ooze accumulates above the CCD and then is covered before being transported to deeper depths by sea floor spreading.
Which conditions allow for calcareous ooze to be found beneath the CCD?
hydrothermal vent a central rift valley basalt volcanism and pillow lavas volcanoes
Which features are associated with the mid-ocean ridge?
tropical island without a fringing reef
Which kind of tropical island would likely be the youngest?
Pacific Ocean
Which ocean is the deepest on Earth?
Characteristics of active continental margins include all of the following except __________. (a) broad continental shelf (b) chains of islands (c) deep-sea trenches (d) thin sediment accumulation (e) volcanic and earthquake activity
a. broad continental shelf
The great heaps of unconsolidated sediment at the base of the continental slope are known as __________. (a) the continental rise (b) the abyssal hills (c) the abyssal plains (d) the mid-ocean mountains (e) the mid-ocean ridge
a. continental rise
Old lithosphere is destroyed in association with __________. (a) deep-sea trenches (b) fracture zones (c) hydrothermal vents (d) mid-ocean ridges (e) spreading centers
a. deep sea trenches
The deep-sea bottom is monotonously flat and featureless. (a) True (b) False
a. false
A cumulative plot of area versus depth or elevation is __________. (a) hypsometric curve (b) seismic survey (c) bathymetry (d) biology
a. hyposometric curve
The continuous submarine mountain range which winds through all the oceans is called the mid-ocean __________. (a) ridge (b) archipelago (c) plume (d) cordillera (e) divide
a. ridge
Abyssal hills are only visible in the Pacific Ocean because __________. (a) sediment has covered those found in the other ocean basins (b) there are none in the Atlantic and Indian ocean basins (c) they are higher in the Pacific than in the other ocean basins (d) they have been destroyed in active plate margins (e) turbidity currents have eroded abyssal hills in the other ocean basins.
a. sediments have covered those found in the other ocean basins
The flat, drowned edges of the continents are called the continental __________. (a) rises (b) wedges (c) slopes (d) shelves (e) ridges
a. shelves
Which is greater, the average height of the continents or the average depth of the ocean? (a) The average depth of the ocean is greater. (b) The average height of the continents is greater.
a. the average depth of the ocean
A sediment-laden current that flows off of the continental shelf is called a turbidity current. (a) True (b) False
a. true
Abyssal plains are more extensive on the floor of the Atlantic as compared those on the floor of the Pacific. (a) True (b) False
a. true
All the mid-ocean ridges are in the center of an ocean basin. (a) True (b) False
a. true
Hydrothermal vents have a significant impact on ocean chemistry. (a) True (b) False
a. true
Sediments of the continental rise can exhibit characteristics similar to those formed by rivers on land. (a) True (b) False
a. true
Subduction zones appear to remain nearly stationary over long periods of time. (a) True (b) False
a. true
Trenches change their position over time. (a) True (b) False
a. true
If a Tsunami were generated near the Hawaiian Islands, how long would it take for the tsunami to travel the 3500 kilometers of open ocean to the west coast of the US?
about 5 hours
CFCs
atmospheric compound with greatest infrared absorbtion rate; only produced in aerosols
In general, continental shelves tend to be wider in the __________. (a) Pacific ocean, because its margins tend to be active (b) Atlantic ocean, because its margins tend to be passive (c) Atlantic ocean, because its margins tend to be active (d) Pacific ocean, because its margins tend to be passive
b. Atlantic ocean because its margins tend to be passive
At the base of many continental shelves, the ocean floor flattens out to a broad region formed from materials eroded from the adjoining continental shelf and slope. This plain is termed the __________. (a) abyss (b) abyssal plain (c) continental plain (d) continental rise (e) guyot
b. abyssal plain
Hydrothermal springs seem to be located near __________. (a) passive continental margins (b) active areas of seafloor spreading (c) the edges of the deep sea trenches (d) the margins of the Hawaiian chain (e) on the abyssal plains
b. active areas of seafloor spreading
The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, __________. (a) are similar in origin to the Alps, the Rockies, and the Appalachians (b) are constructed of volcanic basalt (c) are composed of folded and faulted marine sedimentary rocks (d) are similar in size and features to most continental mountains
b. are constructed of volcanic basalt
Continental rises are formed __________. (a) as a result of the slow accumulation of sediments from the water column (b) by many deep sea fans (c) in association with hydrothermal vents (d) next to submarine canyons (e) on the flank of a mid-ocean ridge
b. by many deep sea fans
The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is __________. (a) the littoral zone (b) the continental slope and rise (c) the abyssal plain. (d) the mid-ocean ridge (e) the submarine canyon
b. continental slope and rise
Passive continental margins are characterized by all of the following except __________. (a) broad continental shelf (b) deep-sea trenches (c) shallow coastal waters (d) thick sediment accumulation (e) very little volcanic and earthquake activity
b. deep sea trenches
Submarine canyons were most likely formed by __________. (a) deposition of terrestrial sediment (b) earthquake activity (c) erosion by major rivers in the past (d) erosion by turbidity currents (e) scouring by glacier during the last ice age
b. earthquake activities
The direction of motion along a seafloor transform fault is __________. (a) associated with turbidity currents (b) in the same direction as the plates are spreading (c) in the same direction as the ridge offset (d) influenced by underwater boundary currents (e) perpendicular to the direction of plate movement
b. in the same direction as the plates are spreading
The method that is most frequently used to investigate sediment and rock layers of the sea floor is __________. (a) direct observation (b) drilling (c) light waves (d) satellite observation (e) sound waves
e. sound waves
Submarine canyons occur __________. (a) at the part of an ocean basin nearest the poles (b) near the edges of ocean basins associated with continental shelves and slopes (c) at the part of an ocean basin nearest the equator (d) at the center of an ocean basin, at the edges of the mid-ocean ridge (e) on the edges of trenches
b. near the edges of ocean basins associated with continental shelves and slopes
The deepest parts of the Pacific Basin are located __________. (a) in the center, surrounding the island of Hawaii. (b) near the margins of South America, Japan, and the Marianas Islands. (c) in the eastern part of the basin, off North America. (d) in the rift valley of the East Pacific Rise
b. near the margins of South America, Japan, and Marianas Islands
Which is greater, the height of the world's tallest mountain or the depth of the world's greatest trench? (a) The height of the world's tallest mountain (Mt. Everest). (b) The depth of the world's greatest trench (Challenger Deep).
b. the depth of the world's greatest trench.
The characteristics of deep trenches indicate __________. (a) they are erosional features similar to the Grand Canyon in Arizona (b) they are elongated subduction-related creases in the oceanic crust (c) they are glacial troughs dating back to the Ice Age (d) they are erosional canyons cut by turbidity currents
b. they are elongated subduction-related creases in the oceanic crust
Bathymetry refers to submarine __________. (a) mineralogy (b) topography (c) biology (d) currents (e) waves
b. topography
Guyots were once active volcanoes whose tops were flattened and leveled by __________. (a) currents (b) wave erosion (c) volcanic explosions (d) solidified lava (e) ice sheets in the last ice age
b. wave erosion
oceanic crust is primarily...
basalt
Winds blowing from the north in the southern hemisphere will appear to :
be deflected toward the east.
The continental margins are relatively shallow because __________. (a) they have been built up by sediments contributed by marine organisms (b) the underlying crust is lighter (c) they have been built up by sediment washed off of the continents (d) they were formed in the last ice age, when the oceans were shallower (e) sea level has dropped in the last 100 years
c. they have been built up by sediment washed off of the continents
The deepest parts of the oceans are the ___________. (a) rift valleys (b) submarine canyons (c) trenches (d) deep basins (e) fault scarps
c. trenches
condensation
change is phase from gas to liquid
The gas(es) that is (are) increasing atmospheric concentration relative to other gases in the atmosphere annually is (are):
chlorofluorocarbons.
core
composed of iron and nickel, liquid outer layer and solid inner layer
The continental shelf __________. (a) is a narrow strip on the East Coast of the United States (b) is a steeply dipping zone dropping off to the deep seafloor (c) is a featureless plain unlike the neighboring continent (d) is a gently sloping platform with a variable landscape (e) all of the above
d. a gently sloping platform with a variable landscape
The origin of submarine canyons is not well understood, but most likely __________. (a) is tectonic, and represents down-folds of rock within the continental shelf (b) is organic, resulting from the activities of burrowing organisms (c) is glacial, the work of glaciers depositing rock debris on the shelf (d) is erosional, started by streams during periods of sea level lowering
d. is erosional, started by streams during periods of seal level lowering
The trailing edge of a moving continental crustal plate is most likely to exhibit features associated with __________. (a) frequent earthquake activity (b) active continental margins (c) widespread volcanism (d) passive continental margins
d. passive continental margins
The correct order of marine provinces from the coast to the mid-ocean ridge is __________. (a) abyssal plain, rise, slope, shelf (b) abyssal plain, shelf, slope, rise (c) rise, abyssal plain, slope, shelf (d) shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plain (e) slope, rise, shelf, abyssal plain
d. shelf, slope. rise. abyssal plain
The two relatively flat areas on the hypsometric curve represent __________. (a) continental mountains and abyssal plains (b) continental mountains and mid-ocean ridges (c) continental slopes and deep-sea trenches (d) some interior continental areas/ coastal plains and abyssal plains (e) some interior continental areas/ coastal plains and mid-ocean ridges
d. some interior continental areas/coastal plains and abyssal plains
old lithosphere is destroyed in association with
deep sea trenches
Thermohaline flow is a term that describes _____.
deep-ocean current movement
deep focus earthquakes are associated with...
deep-sea trenches
Submarine canyons are __________. (a) found worldwide, on all kinds of shelves (b) steep-walled and narrow (c) cut into firm rock (d) cut into the shelf and may extend almost to the shore (e) all of these
e. all of these
A turbidity current is __________. (a) a fast surface current of water that runs parallel to beaches and that causes a rapid decrease in water clarity (b) the cause of mid-ocean maelstroms (whirlpools) (c) a phenomenon associated with violent atmospheric storms at sea (d) something that always occurs at river mouths in shallow water, but does not extend into water more than 50 meters (165 feet) deep (e) none of the above
e. none of the above
With respect to mid-ocean ridges, transform faults are __________. (a) associated with hydrothermal vents (b) located in submarine canyons (c) parallel to the direction of plate movement (d) parallel to the rift valley (e) perpendicular to the ridge axis
e. perpendicular to the ridge axis
Extinct volcanoes with conical tops and steep sides in the ocean basins are called __________. (a) islands (b) archipelagos (c) banks (d) atolls (e) seamounts
e. seamounts
Which of the following statements accurately describes continental margins? (a) They are regions of great geological stability. (b) They are characteristic of the margins of the Atlantic Basin. (c) They are areas of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes, where crustal plates are converging or are in collision. (d) They are areas where crustal plates are actively moving apart. (e) They are usually different in topography from the adjoining coast.
e. they are usually different in topography from the adjoining coast
The axis of the mid-ocean ridges is segmented by a series of __________. (a) normal faults (b) reverse faults (c) thrust faults (d) gravity faults (e) transform faults
e. transform faults
What is the primary reason Earth has seasons?
earths rotational axis is tilted
T or F: The superposition, or overlapping, of two waves always results in destructive interference between the different waves.
false
Circular orbital motion in waves becomes negligible (dies out) at depths greater than ____.
half the waves wavelength
hydrogenous sediments
halite, manganese nodules, metal sulfides
Word Analysis. 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.
hydrothermal vents, Hawaiian Islands, oceanic trench, Panamerica
tropic of capricorn
located at 23.5 degrees S
Tropic of Cancer
located at 23.5º N latitude
Tropic of Capricorn
located at 23.5º S latitude
cosmogenous sediments
tektites
As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds are deflected
to the right of the original direction
hydrothermal vents between 30 degrees c and 350 degrees c produce
white smokers