ATOC1060 Exam 3

El Niño conditions

-Weak Easterlies -Warm ocean in the West -Rain flows heat -Dry in East -Wet in West

Thermocline

-area where temp drops rapidly -maximum depth usually 1000 m

Deep Zone

-very cold water moving from poles to equator -most dense water -found beneath other ocean water in almost all ocean locations

mixed layer

-wind and waves mix heat evenly -absorbs almost all of the suns light -maximum depth usually 100 m

3 Types of thermoclines

1. Diurnal Thermoclines (heating of day) 2. Seasonal (Shown) 3. Permanent

Seasonal Mixed Layer depths are controlled by:

1. Insolation 2. Mechanical Mixing (waves and storms)

The three major Atlantic Ocean water masses listed in order of decreasing density are:

AABW, NADW and AAIW

El Niño/La Niña:

Act as ocean heat capacitors Equatorial winds blow from east to west Build a deep reservoir of warm water (energy) in the West Pacific Ocean ENSO event occurs every 2 to 7 years Flow reverses Warm water spills over ocean surface Energy is released to the atmosphere Impact on future climate is uncertain. They have a global impact, through teleconnection. El Niño events release energy. La Niña events store energy.

Which of the following parameters does not influence the density of ocean water?

Alkalinity

Micro-Scale Monsoon

Caused by differing Specific Heat Capacities of Land and Sea

because the Ocean is Temperature stratified, it is clearly ________________ as well.

Density Stratified

During the Winter Monsoon, coastal ______________________ occurs off of the coast of Somalia.

Downwelling

During the Winter Monsoon, coastal ______________________ is enhanced off the coast of Somalia and the Somalian current flows to the _____________________.

Downwelling; Southwest

During the Winter Monsoon, coastal ______________________ is enhanced off the coast of Somalia and the Somalian current flows to the _____________________.

Downwelling; Southwest

What does ENSO stand for?

El Niño Southern Oscillation

ENSO

El Niño Southern Oscillation, see-sawing of air pressure over the S. Pacific occurs every 2 to 7 years / Flow reverses Thermocline adjustment propagates Eastward as an Equatorially Trapped Kelvin Wave Energy is released to the atmosphere

Surface Sea ice formation (freezing):

Extracts brine (salts) from the ice crystal structure which increases sea surface density

Surface Sea Ice formation (freezing) ______________ most of the brine (salts) from the crystal water ice structure, which _______________ sea surface density.

Extracts: Increases

What depths define the Permanent Thermocline?

From the Mid-Latitude Winter Mixed Layer Depth to the Start of the Deep Isothermal Layer.

Which combination of Temperature and Salinity creates the most dense seawater?

High Salinity, Low Temperature

During the Winter Monsoon, a _________________ pressure system forms over India which evacuates ________________ air south and eastward from the Indian land mass.

High; Cold and Dry

During the Summer Monsoon, a _________________ pressure system forms over India which draws in ________________ air from over the Indian Ocean.

Low; Warm and Humid

During the Summer Monsoon, a _________________ pressure system forms over India which draws in ________________ air from over the Indian Ocean.

Low; Warm and Humid

Where can we find the highest density values in the T-S Diagram above?

Lower Right

Where can we find the highest density values in this T-S Diagram?

Lower Right

La Niña Effect

Makes global temperature cooler.

In the Mid-Latitudes, the Seasonal Mixed Layer Depth is a function of what two factors?

Mechanical Mixing; Insolation

The Indian Ocean Regional Intertropical Convergence Zone shifts to the __________________ during the Summer.

North

How is the Thermocline related to Pycnocline?

PYCNOCLINE = THERMOCLINE

Which of the three Regional (Polar Regions, Temperate, Tropical/Equatorial) Temperature vs Depth Profiles has the most defined or "longest" thermocline?

Permanent thermocline

Which of the following does not contribute to increasing sea surface density:

Precipitation in the Equatorial Regions / Tropics

Pressure Differential causes Coastal Surface Winds

Sea Breeze - Day Land Breeze - Night

During the Winter Monsoon over the Indian Ocean, the Somalia current flows:

Southwesterly

Which Monsoonal Season is associated with heavy precipitation over the Indian land mass?

Summer

the Ocean has Three distinct Thermal Layers

Surface (mixed)layer Thermocline Deep Zone (Isothermal)

What are the three primary Vertical Temperature "Zones" in the Ocean?

Surface Mixed Layer; Thermocline; Deep Zone

Which Temperature versus Depth Profile has the least developed or "shortest" thermocline? (Hint: The Polar regions are relatively "isothermal" and don't have a thermocline)

Temperate

What feature most specifically describes a rapid change in ocean Temperature with depth?

Thermocline

Most of the Ocean's prediction models characterize the ocean as a "Two Layer" System. What does this mean?

This means that the top layer is typically warmer and lighter and holds a different set of marine life whereas the other layer is typically more dense and holds marine life adapted to those conditions.

Which of the three Regional (Polar Regions, Temperate, Tropical/Equatorial) Temperature vs Depth Profiles has the most defined or "longest" thermocline?

Tropics

Where can we find the lowest density values in the T-S Diagram above?

Upper Left

During the Summer Monsoon, coastal ______________________ is enhanced off the coast of Somalia and the Somalian current flows to the _____________________.

Upwelling; Northeast

Surface Ocean temperatures of the Eastern Tropical Pacific are __________________ during an El Niño event.

Warmer than average

When is the Mixed Layer depth the deepest in the Mid-Latitudes?

Winter

True/ False) It is safe to melt and drink sea ice.

false

True/False) Weaker Trade Winds are associated with La Nina events.

false

Which of the Atlantic Ocean water masses in the image above is Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)?

left

Which of the Atlantic Ocean water masses in the image above is Antarctic Intermediate Water (AIBW)?

middle

What "depths" define the Seasonal Thermocline?

mixed layer depth in summer mixed layer depth in winter.

Which of the Atlantic Ocean water masses above is North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)?

right

Surface bio-productivity off of the Somalian coast increases during the ________________ Monsoon.

summer

Which Monsoonal Season is associated with heavy precipitation over the Indian land mass?

summer

What are the three primary Vertical Temperature Features "Zones" in the Ocean? How does each zone change with increased depth? Define the critical depths associated with each.

the "zones" are Surface (mixed)layer, Thermocline, and Deep Zone (Isothermal). In the mixed layer, it is about 100 m and warm because it is closest to the sun's heat. In the thermocline, it is usually 1000m and temperature drops rapidly. In the deep zone, it is very deep and also very cold.

(True/False) Thermohaline Circulation serves to oxygenate the deep ocean basins and is density driven.

true