Introduction to Oceanography- 1
The average depth of the world's oceans is approximately : D
A- 2, 172 meters (7, 126 feet) B- 11, 022 meters (3, 6161 feet) C- 8, 40 meters (2, 756 feet) D- 3, 682 meters (12, 080 feet)
Earth is about: C
A- 46 billion years old B- 460, 000 years old C- 4.6 billion years old D- 4.6 million years old
The four main classifications of marine sediments include: A
A- All of these B- lithogenous (terrigenous) sediment C- cosmogenous sediment D- biogenous sediment
The largest of the ocean basins, which currently covers more than half of the ocean surface is : B
A- Atlantic Ocean B- Pacific Ocean C- Arctic Ocean D- Indian Ocean
which of the following statements regarding continental and oceanic crust is TRUE?? :A
A- Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust B- continental crust and oceanic crust have the same thickness and densities C- Continental crust is thinner and less dense than oceanic crust D- Continental crust is thinner and denser than oceanic crust
Moving from an ocean ridge to an oceanic trench, the thickness of the lithosphere: B
A- remains the same B- increases the proportion to the distance from the ridge C- decreases in proportion to the distance from the ridge D- randomly varies
Wegener used all of the following to provide evidence for continental drift except: A
A- seafloor magnetic patterns B- shape of continental margins C- age of selected continental rocks D- location of coral reef fossils
Along the margins of the Pacific are found most of the Earth's: B
A- seaknolls B- undersea volcanoes C- tablemounts D- oceanic ridges
Passive continental margins are characterized all of the following EXCEPT: D
A- shallow coastal waters B- very little volcanic and earthquake activity C- broad continental shelves D- deep-sea trenches
Oceanic crust is primarily: C
A- siltstone B- granite C- basalt D- clay minerals
The correct order of seafloor features from coast to mid-ocean ridge is: D
A- slope, rise, shelf, abyssal plane B- abyssal plane, rise, slope, shelf C- rise, abyssal plain, slope, shelf D- shelf, slope, rise, abyssal plane
Older atmosphere destroyed in associated with: C
A- spreading centers B- fracture zones C- deep sea trenches D- hdyrothermal events
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a: D
A- subduction zone B- convergent plate boundary C- transform fault boundary D- divergent plate boundary
Relatively few abyssal plains are located in the Pacific Ocean due to: B
A- the presence of seamounts B- the presence of active margins C- the absence of convergent active margins D- it's smaller size compared to other ocean basins
Sediments produced by plants and animals in the sea are called: D
A- volcanogenic B- cosmogenous C- hydrogenous D- biogenous
Current scientific knowledge indicates that the most likely origin of most of Earth's oceans was due to: A
A- water vapor released during volcanic out-gassing B- comets from outer space C- water vapor produced from reptilian respiration D- released liquid water from the core
Which of the following is true about the lithosphere? B
A- The lithosphere is composed only of metamorphic rock B- the lithosphere is composed of the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle C- The lithosphere is composed only of metamorphic rock D- The lithosphere is composed of the inner portion of the mantle and outer core
Evidence for continental drift includes: A
A- all of the above B- matching sequence of rocks and mountain chains C- the distribution of organisms D- the fit of the continents
Tectonic plates are pieces of the _____ that float on the more fluid _____ below.
A- asthenosphere; lithosphere B- lithosphere; asthenosphere C- mantle; crust D- crust; lithosphere
Coral reefs that initial develop along the margin of an island of an island or content and eventually form a ring after the central volcano creates a(n): A
A- atoll B- barrier reef C- seamount D- patch reef
Which of the following is characteristics of oceanic-continental convergent palate boundaries? B
A- basalt flows B- andesitic volcanoes C- fracture zones D- hot spots
All of these are lithogenous sediments except? B
A- beach sand B- diatom ooze C- glacial deposits D- clays
Earth's primordial atmosphere most likely included: A
A- carbon dioxide, water vapor, ammonia, and methane B- nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide C- water vapor, helium, oxygen, and argon D- oxygen, helium, and hydrogen
Which of the following contains silica (SiO₂)? D
A- coccolithophores B- corals C- phosphorites D- radiolarians
One of the reasons that free oxygen in our atmosphere is more important to the development and maintenance of life on Earth is because oxygen: B
A- combines with iron in volcanic rocks B- can form ozone and block some UV radiation C- reduces atmospheric temperature D- was very abundant in the Earth's early atmosphere
Directly seaward of the continental shelf is more steeply sloping called the: A
A- continental slope B- continental rise C- abyssal plain D- mid-ocean ridge
The most likely place to find abundant manganese nodules is on the: D
A- crest of a mid-ocean ridge B- continental rise C- continental shelf D- abyssal plane far from a continent
Characteristics of active continental margins include all of the following EXCEPT: B
A- deep sea trenches B- broad continental shelves C- chains of islands D- thin sediment accumulation
The separation of the Earth into layers while it was molten was the result of the: A
A- different densities of the elements that make up of the earth B- decrease of temperature downward toward the core C- presence of water at Earth's surface D- gravitational force created by the rotating Earth
The method most frequently used to investigate sediment and rock layers of the sea floor is:
A- drilling B- satellite observation C- direct observation D- sound waves (especially seismic reflecting profiling)
Submarine canyons were most likely formed by: A
A- erosion by turbidity currents B- deposition of terrestrial sediment C- scouring by glaciers during the last ice age D- Earthquake activity
The Scientific Method includes all of the following EXCEPT: B
A- evaluation data B- validation of data C- hypothesis formation D- data collection
New lithosphere is produced in associated with: C
A- fracture zones B- transform faults C- oceanic ridges D- deep-sea trenches
Plate tectonics and evolution, which held with a high degree of confidence because of rigorous testing and verification, are example of: C
A- guesses B- hypothesis C- theories D- laws
The San Andreas Fault: A
A- is a transform fault B- is a subduction zone C- is located on the Juan de Fuca Plate D- is associated with deep focus earthquake
High-energy environments are most likely to deposit which one of the following? A
A- large particles such as gravel B- clay sized particles C- manganese nodules D- silt-sized particles
Pelagic clay contain lots of material that settles to the seafloor through the water column are: C
A- less than 30% neritic material B- more than 30% hydrogenous material C- less than 30% biogenous material D- more than 30% biogenous material
Climate distribution on Earth is primarily controlled by: B
A- longitude B- latitude C- plants and animals that live in that area D- Earth's geologic history
Calcium carbonate is most likely to dissolve in water with which characteristic? C
A- low pressure and colder temperatures B- lots of carbon dioxide and warmer temperatures C- lots of carbon dioxide and colder temperatures D- low carbon dioxide and warmer temperatures
The study of historical of continental shapes and positions is called: B
A- paleomagnetism B- paleogeography C- paleoclimatology D- sedimentology
Sediments found on continental margins are called: D
A- pelagic B- estuarine C- oceanic D- neritic
Underwater avalanches of muddy water mixed with rocks and debris are: C
A- pelagic ooze B- deep sea fans C- turbidity currents D- graded bedding
Seafloor magnetic patterns are best described as: D
A- perpendicular to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges B- parallel to, but not symmetric about mid-ocean ridges C- perpendicular to, but symmetric about mid-ocean ridges D- parallel to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges
Fossils of ancient polar plants are currently found near the equator because the: B
A- poles were at the equator at times in the geologic past B- plants lived near the poles, but landmasses have drifted to current locations C- plants probably were tolerant of both tropical and polar climates D- plants were distributed to current locations by ancient glacial ice sheets
Which of the following contains calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)? C
A- radiolarians B- glauconcite C- foraminiferans D- diatoms