ocean quizzes

carbon dioxide makes up what percent of the atmosphere today

0.04%

With drastic cuts in anthropogenic CO2 emissions, the Earth would likely warm an additional ______ by the year 2100, but if we continue with "business as usual" the additional warming is likely to be about _____.

1, 4

How many kilograms of phytoplankton does it take to support a 10 kg fish that is a third-level consumer (i.e., it eats small fish that feed on zooplankton that eat phytoplankton).

10,000 kg

what is the average duration of glacial cycles over the past 800,000 years

100,000 yrs

The natural greenhouse effect raises Earth's surface temperature by approximately

35 degrees C

what is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory

A hypothesis becomes a theory after many studies find evidence to support it.

Which statements about sulfate aerosols is true?

They increase Earth's albedo, producing a cooling effect., They can be produced by burning coal., They can be produced by volcanic eruptions

true statements about tsunamis

Tsunamis can travel 700 km/hr, Tsunamis can have wavelengths of 200 km, A single tsunami can have multiple wave crests 15 minutes apart, Tsunamis are shallow water waves, Passive margins ARE NOT safe from tsunamis

which of the following statements accurately describes remineralization

a.It occurs in both the surface and deep ocean. b.It consumes oxygen and produces CO2. c.It converts organic matter into inorganic nutrients. d.Its chemical reaction is the reverse of photosynthesis.

Deep water is usually colder than surface water because

a.deep water forms at high latitude b.sunlight does not reach the deep ocean c.cold water is denser than warm water d.the thermocline prevents mixing between surface and deep water in most places

which feature makes up the largest percent of the seafloor

abyssal plain

When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, the water becomes slightly more:

acidic, its ph is lower

Which of the following are accurate descriptions of an El Nino event? (You may select more than one answer.)

an irregular recurrence interval that is difficult to predict , AND deepening of the thermocline in the eat pacific

each of the following layers behaves like a liquid

athenosphere (upper mantle), and the outer core

eventually, most anthropogenic carbon dioxide will

be buried in ocean sediments

by how much is sea level expected to rise by the year 2100

between 0.3-1 m

According to the Milankovitch hypothesis, what causes glacial cycles?

changes in earths orbit and rotation axis

where are the oldest rocks on earth found

continents

which of these reservoirs contains the most carbon

deep ocean

the california current is caused by

gyre circulation

While the side of Earth facing the moon experiences high tide, the opposite side of Earth experiences:

high tide also

According to the seafloor spreading hypothesis, what mechanism causes the motion of the continents?

mantle convection

If our planet were without its ocean (if it were entirely covered in dry land), but otherwise the same as it is today, what would be the effect on seasonal temperature changes?

larger temperature changes: summers would be hotter and winters would be colder

what is the primary energy source for a hurricane

latent heat of water vapor

the two most common limiting factors in the ocean

light, nutrients

The calcium carbonate in the White Cliffs of Dover is formed from:

microscopic seashells

water particles in a deep water wave

move in circular orbits near the surface

Consider a stretch of the California coastline that runs directly north-south (with California on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west). The wind and Coriolis effect will act together to produce coastal upwelling when the wind blows in which direction?

north to south

why is eutrophication bad for marine organisms

not enough oxygen

Glacial cycles in atmospheric CO2 concentrations are most likely caused by changes in:

ocean carbon storage

where is the density difference across the thermocline smallest

polar regions

Albedo measures the percent of light _______ by an object

reflected

Where is the largest warming for the coming century is predicted to occur?

the arctic

where is the oldest deep water?

the deep north pacific because its surface water is too fresh to sink

Imagine you are leading an expedition to colonize another planet and you can choose between two planets with habitable temperatures. The climate scientists studying these planets tell you that one planet's climate system is dominated by positive feedbacks and the other's climate is dominated by negative feedbacks. Which planet is a better choice?

the one with negative feedbacks

What does the δ18O of CaCO3 from foraminifera measure? (Select all correct answers.)

the ratio of two different oxygen isotopes, the amount of snow & ice on land

sea level has changed many times in the geologic past

true

What process is thought to cause submarine canyons on the continental slope?

turbidite flows

At their current atmospheric concentrations, which greenhouse gas is responsible for the largest percentage of greenhouse effect?

water vapor

longshore transport is caused by

waves that are not parallel to the shore

Hydrogenous (or authigenic) sediments are formed from minerals that:

were dissolved in sea water

which of the following is an example of lithogenous (or terrigenous) sediment

wind-blown dust