Oceanography Homework Two

A zone in which the ocean's salinity changes rapidly with increasing depth is called: a) a halocline. b) a thermocline. c) a pycnocline. d) a metacline.

a) a halocline.

Constructive interference in waves can cause: a) an occasional wave greater than any noted before or after its occurrence. b) every other wave to be larger or smaller than the preceding or following. c) waves to get smaller within 24 hours. d) waves to double in height every 24 hours.

a) an occasional wave greater than any noted before or after its occurrence.

How many atmospheric circulation cells exist in EACH hemisphere? a) 6 b) 3 c) 4 d) 1

b) 3

Which of the following statements about pH is not true? a) The pH relates to acid-base balance. b) A pH of 3 is alkaline, a pH of 10 is acid. c) Buffers prevent large swings in pH. d) As a whole, the pH of the ocean is mildly alkaline.

b) A pH of 3 is alkaline, a pH of 10 is acid.

The long term average of weather in an area is called : a) Coriolis b) Climate c) Storm surge d) Cyclonic circulation

b) Climate

Which of the following statments is FALSE concerning air? a) Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. b) Humid air is denser than dry air. c) Warm air is less dense than cold air. d) Water vapor in air can occupy up to 4% of air's volume.

b) Humid air is denser than dry air.

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding solar heating of Earth? a) Heating of Earth varies with latitude. b) Ice absorbs much of the solar energy that reaches the poles. c) Greenhouse gases are disrupting Earth's heat balance. d) Much of the solar radiation at the equator is absorbed.

b) Ice absorbs much of the solar energy that reaches the poles.

Which of the following statements about the hydrological cycle is correct ? a) The hydrological cycle describes the erosional cycle of sediments by water. b) The hydrological cycle is powered by solar radiation. c) More water evaporates and precipitates over land than over the ocean. d) The freshwater stored in glaciers and ice caps make up a large part of the global water budget.

b) The hydrological cycle is powered by solar radiation.

A system of four currents completing a flow circuit around the periphery of an ocean basin is collectively called: a) a cell. b) a gyre. c) a microscale current. d) convection cells.

b) a gyre.

Oxygen enters seawater: a) through the respiration of animals. b) as a byproduct of photosynthesis and diffusion from the surface. c) as a result of decomposition of plant and animals remains. d) through the oxidation of metal ions in seawater.

b) as a byproduct of photosynthesis and diffusion from the surface.

The hydrogen molecules in a water molecule tend to bond to: a) each other b) oxygen atoms of another water molecule. c) hydrogen molecules of another water molecule. d) all positively charged ions.

b) oxygen atoms of another water molecule

Weather may be defined as: a) long-term temperature and rainfall trends. b) short-term localized characteristics of the atmosphere. c) long-term changes in the composition of the atmosphere. d) short-term changes in the composition of the atmosphere.

b) short-term localized characteristics of the atmosphere.

Residence time is: a) the same for all elements in the ocean. b) the average length of time an elements spends in the ocean. c) the length of time it takes an element to dissolve in the ocean. d) the same as mixing time.

b) the average length of time an elements spends in the ocean.

Most of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina was due to: a) the storm surge arriving at low tide. b) the storm surge arriving at high tide. c) the low winds. d) the high temperatures.

b) the storm surge arriving at high tide

If you were sailing from Europe to the Americas and you wanted to take advantage of the prevailing winds, you would choose to sail with the : a) westerlies b) trade winds c) polar winds d) doldrums

b) trade winds

If oceans were absent on our Planet and instead just consisted of landmasses, the surface temperature: a) would not differ from today's surface temperature. b) would be more extreme. c) would be less extreme. d) would be more influenced by precipitation and evaporation.

b) would be more extreme.

The only ocean current that continues in an uninterrupted circle around the circumference of the Earth without encountering land is the: a) Gulf Stream. b) Kuroshio, or Japan Current. Correct! c) Antarctic Circumpolar Current. d) Canary Current.

c) Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

The main force driving thermohaline circulation is: a) a wind. b) Coriolis effect. c) Density. d) Electromagnetic attraction.

c) Density.

Generally the fastest and deepest ocean currents are: a) Northern boundary currents. b) Eastern boundary currents. c) Western boundary currents. d) Southern boundary currents

c) Western boundary currents.

In the open sea, tsunami: a) are giant breaking waves that are dangerous to ships. b) are slow moving waves; slower than the swell. c) are long period waves, often 5-20 minutes. d) have short wavelengths of 100-200 feet, similar to wind waves.

c) are long period waves, often 5-20 minutes.

Warm air ____ and cool air _____. a) expands and sinks; expands and rises. b) contracts and rises; expands and sinks. c) expands and rises; contracts and sinks. d) expands and rises; expands and sinks.

c) expands and rises; contracts and sinks.

As carbon dioxide enters the ocean it: a) is used by animals for respiration. b) bonds to water molecules to increase the salinity of the ocean c) forms carbonic acid. d) becomes a product of photosynthesis.

c) forms carbonic acid.

The type of bond that enables water molecules to stick together is a: a) covalent bond. b) molecular bond. c) hydrogen bond. d) atomic bond.

c) hydrogen bond.

A permanent and deep thermocline can be found: a) in temperate zones. b) in Antarctica. c) in the tropics. d) anywhere depending on water salinity.

c) in the tropics.

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) low atmospheric pressure. d) rainfall.

c) low atmospheric pressure.

The intertropical convergence zone, ( ITZC ) a) stays stationary year round. b) coincides with the geographical equator. c) moves farther away from the equator during the Northern summer than the Southern one due to the north-heavy arrangement of the continents. d) denotes the boundary between the Hadley and the Ferrel cells.

c) moves farther away from the equator during the Northern summer than the Southern one due to the north-heavy arrangement of the continents.

Waves tend to be parallel to the shore when they break due to the process of: a) diffraction. b) reflection. c) refraction. d) reaction.

c) refraction.

Seasons are caused by: a) changes in the weather. b) annual variation in the energy output of the sun. c) the Earth's orbital tilt relative to the plane of its orbit around the sun. d) our being closer to the sun in summer.

c) the Earth's orbital tilt relative to the plane of its orbit around the sun.

The density of seawater will increase: a) when the temperature increases. b) when the salinity decreases. c) when the salinity increases. d) when dissolved gases increase.

c) when the salinity increases.

A _____ is a gravity wave formed by the transfer of wind energy over the water. a) swell. b) capillary wave. c) wind wave. d) tsunami.

c) wind wave.

All of the following statements about an Ekman Spiral are true, EXCEPT: a) the net flow of a wind-drive surface current in the northern hemisphere will flow at about a 90 degrees angle to the wind. b) with increasing depth, each layer will move at an angle to the overlying layer of water. c) because of Ekman transport, at some depth, known as the friction depth, water will be moving in the opposite direction from the surface current. d) Ekman spiral is not influenced by Coriolis.

d) Ekman spiral is not influenced by Coriolis.

In which reservoir is most water stored on our planet ? a) Groundwater b) Ice caps and glaciers c) Rivers and lakes d) Oceans

d) Oceans

Which statement is true about the pycnocline ? a) Salinity decreases below the pycnocline. b) Temperature increases below the pycnocline. c) The pycnocline contains about 80% of all ocean water. d) The pycnocline is the zone that isolates surface water from the denser layer below

d) The pycnocline is the zone that isolates surface water from the denser layer below

Rogue waves are best described as: a) the highest waves of a tsunami. b) a breaking internal wave. c) a strong rocking motion within a harbor. d) a single massive wave that develops in the open ocean.

d) a single massive wave that develops in the open ocean.

During an El Nino event: a) the trade winds strengthen. b) the central eastern Pacific Ocean becomes cooler. c) sea level falls in the central eastern Pacific ocean. d) a strong equatorial countercurrent develops in the Pacific.

d) a strong equatorial countercurrent develops in the Pacific.

The ultimate height of a wind wave will depend on: a) the fetch. b) the length of time the wind blows. c) the velocity of the wind. d) all of these.

d) all of these.

The boundary between two air masses is called a(n): a) Hadley line. b) ITCZ. c) Hadley cell. d) front.

d) front.

The wavelength(s) of light that penetrate deepest into the ocean are: a) red and violet. b) red and yellow. c) blue and red. d) green and blue.

d) green and blue.

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.

d) nitrogen and oxygen.

The two most abundant elements (ions) dissolved in seawater are: a) fluorine and iodine. b) gold and silver. c) bromine and boron. d) sodium and chloride.

d) sodium and chloride.

The ocean's deep sound channel (sofar layer) is characterized as a zone by all of the following EXCEPT: a) sound is horizontally concentrated rather than diffused as it moves through the water. b) acoustical energy losses are relatively small. c) sound waves travel great horizontal distances. d) sound velocity is at a maximum.

d) sound velocity is at a maximum.

The power for tropical cyclones comes from: a) static electricity. b) warm and cool air masses colliding. c) the Coriolis effect. d) the condensation of warm, moist air.

d) the condensation of warm, moist air.

Frozen water is more dense than liquid water. True False

False

Hadley atmospheric circulation cells are found at mid-latitudes. True False

False

Oxygen is the primary component of air. True False

False

Red light is able to penetrate the water deepest. True False

False

Scientists believe the global change in greenhouse gases is making the surface ocean fresher in high latitudes. True False

True

The North Atlantic gyre is composed of the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current and the North Equatorial Current. True False

True

The vast majority of the ocean water lies below the pycnocline. True False

True

The largest of the western boundary currents is the: a) Gulf Stream. b) Canary Current. c) East Pacific Gyre. d) California Current.

a) Gulf Stream.

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding sound in the ocean? a) Sound is scattered as it bounces off suspended particles in the water. b) Sound intensity increases as it moves through the ocean because of absorption. c) The speed of sound in the ocean is ten times less than the speed of sound in air. d) The speed of sound in the ocean decreases as temperature increases.

a) Sound is scattered as it bounces off suspended particles in the water.

When viewed from above, tropical cyclones rotate ______ in the southern hemisphere. a) clockwise b) counterclockwise c) in either direction depending on the storm d) poleward

a) clockwise

One of the driving forces of atmospheric circulation is: a) convection. b) conduction. c) evaporation. d) transpiration.

a) convection.

Calm equatorial areas of low pressure are referred to as the: a) doldrums. b) horse latitudes. c) trade winds. d) westerlies.

a) doldrums

The uninterrupted distance over which the wind blows without change in the direction is the: a) fetch. b) wavelength. c) wind length. d) wind cell.

a) fetch.

The Canary Current is an example of a(an): a) shallow, cold water current. b) deep, cold water current. c) warm, southerly current. d) mesopelagic current.

a) shallow, cold water current.

The term "salinity" refers to: a) the total amount of dissolved solids in the ocean. b) the total amount of sodium chloride dissolved in the ocean. c) the total amount of chlorine in one kilogram of water. d) the total amount of chloride ions in the water.

a) the total amount of dissolved solids in the ocean.

When a tsunami reaches shore, a) the wave height is increased by entry into shallow water. b) it will always race hundreds of meters inland. c) it always arrives at the time of high tide. d) it will appear as a single, huge breaking wave.

a) the wave height is increased by entry into shallow water.

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.

a) to the right, or clockwise when viewed from above.

The distance measured from trough to trough of a wave is called the: a) wavelength. b) wave height. c) wave period. d) orbit.

a) wavelength.