Ch7

Of the following locations, where would upwelling be expected to occur?

-Seamounts/tablemounts -Diverging surface currents -Sharp bend

In which direction does the surface current move in relation to the wind in the Southern Hemisphere?

45 degrees to the left

Which current that flows along the equator is driven by a difference in sea level caused by ocean circulation patterns?

Equatorial Countercurrent in the Pacific Ocean

One of the world's most powerful currents, located off the east coast of the United States, is the _________

Gulf Stream

Which ocean current is the strongest and fastest ocean current in the world?

Gulf Stream

In the figure above, which of the labeled currents are eastern boundary currents?

H, C, N

In the figure above, which of the labeled currents are shallow, weak, and slow currents?

H, N

Ocean frontal systems that spin off from currents such as the Gulf Stream, akin to atmospheric storms, are known as _________

eddies

What is the overall effect of the stronger than normal trade winds typical of La Niña conditions?

lowering of the South Pacific ocean

Fluctuations in the flow of the Gulf Stream current result in curving loops of water known as _________

meanders

What is the Southern Oscillation?

pressure zones, El Niño

Under which conditions are droughts and wildfires common in Australia?

under El Niño conditions

What factors drive Ekman transport?

-wind -Coriolis effect

What is the Walker Circulation Cell?

... in the South Pacific under normal conditions

Downwelling can result from _____

Converging surface currents

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

Refer the figure above. In which direction would the entire surface current underneath the Greenland iceberg be expected to travel?

E

In the figure, which of the labeled currents are warm water currents?

E, F, B

The Gulf Stream transports warm water into the ________

North Atlantic

Why does upwelling occur along the west coast of South America under normal conditions?

Westward x2

When a meander from the Gulf Stream pinches off into the warm water south of the current, the eddy is called a __________

cold-core eddy or ring

Which direction do ocean currents in the South Pacific move under El Niño conditions?

eastward

A thermocline is _____

temperature gradient, separates deeper cold water from warm upper water

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

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?

unusually DRY weather