Oceanography

Plate convergence begins during which stage of the Wilson Cycle? Juvenile Mature Declining Terminal Suturing

Declining

Which of the following is an example of a nematath? Mariana Islands IcelandAleutian Islands Hawaiian Islands-Emperor Seamount Chain Great Barrier Reef

Hawaiian Islands-Emperor

How are the materials that make up Earth's interior stratified in relation to their densities? The materials are homogenous throughout Earth's interior. The highest-density materials are concentrated at Earth's core, whereas lower-density materials are located closer to Earth's surface. The highest-density materials make up the ocean floor, and the lowest-density materials make up the mountains. The lowest-density materials make up the ocean floor, and the highest-density materials make up the mountains. The lowest-density materials are concentrated at Earth's core, whereas higher-density materials are located closer to Earth's surface.

The highest-density materials are concentrated at Earth's core, whereas lower-density materials are located closer to Earth's surface.

Which layer of the Earth behaves in a plastic manner? Crust Outer core Lithosphere Asthenosphere Inner core

Asthenosphere

Where do coral reefs exist with sea mounts? In polar latitudes In tropical latitudes In both polar and tropical latitudes

In tropical latitudes

The flipping of Earth's magnetic field takes an average of about ________ years. 10,000 12,000 5,000 1,000 2,000

5,000

Who left Spain in September 1519 and became the first person to complete a circumnavigation of the globe when he returned to Spain three years later? Ferdinand Magellan Vasco da Gama Vasco Nunez de Balboa Juan Sebastian del Caño Giovanni Caboto

Juan Sebastian del Caño

Which of the following is Earth's rigid layer that includes the crust plus the topmost portion of the mantle? Asthenosphere Inner core Lithosphere Mesosphere Outer core

Lithosphere

Which of the following represents Earth's plates that are involved in plate tectonic motion? Asthenosphere Inner core Lithosphere Mesosphere Outer core

Lithosphere

How did the view of the ocean by early Mediterranean cultures influence the naming of planet Earth? Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of large land masses surrounded by marginal bodies of water. Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of small land masses surrounded by marginal bodies of water. Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of large land masses surrounded by large bodies of water. Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of small land masses surrounded by large bodies of water.

Mediterranean cultures believed Earth was composed of small land masses surrounded by large bodies of water.

Which of the following fossils was used as data to help reconstruct Pangea because it was a reptile found in South America and Africa? Lepidodendron Glossopteris Archaeopteris Mesosauras

Mesosauras

Most large earthquakes occur along which of the following? Faults on land Ocean trenches Other faults in the sea floor Mid-ocean ridges

Ocean trenches

What type of plate boundary will result in the formation of a volcanic island chain or arc near a deep-sea trench? Oceanic-oceanic divergent boundaries Continental-continental divergent boundaries Continental-continental convergent boundaries Ocean-continental convergent boundaries Oceanic-oceanic convergent boundaries

Oceanic-oceanic convergent boundaries

In which period did the first fishes appear? Cambrian Silurian Ordovician Devonian

Ordovician

Which layer of the Earth is composed of a liquid? Mesosphere Lithosphere Asthenosphere Outer core Inner core

Outer core

Waters from which ocean basins combine to form the Southern Ocean? Choose all that apply. Indian Pacific Caspian Sea Arctic Atlantic

Pacific atlantic indian

Which of the following has the deepest waters? Lake Baikal Atlantic Ocean Arctic Ocean Pacific Ocean Mediterranean Sea

Pacific Ocean

Which of the following is the largest natural geographic feature on Earth? Pacific Ocean Grand Canyon Amazon Rainforest Great Barrier Reef Antarctica

Pacific Ocean

The San Andreas Fault in California cuts through which two plates? Juan de Fuca Plate and North American Plate Juan de Fuca Plate and Pacific Plate Pacific Plate and North American Plate North American Plate and Gorda Plate

Pacific Plate and North American Plate

What happens during radioactive decay? Parent isotopes turn into daughter isotopes. Energy turns into daughter isotopes. Daughter isotopes turn into parent isotopes. Daughter isotopes turn into energy. Parent isotopes turn into energy.

Parent isotopes turn into daughter isotopes.

The first recorded circumnavigation of Africa was made by the ________. Chinese Phoenicians Greeks Polynesians

Phoenicians

Which of the following was true about the Protoearth? Protoearth had early primitive life forms. Protoearth had one large ocean. Protoearth's deep structure was homogeneous. Protoearth's size was smaller than today's Earth.

Protoearth's deep structure was homogeneous.

The method of determining latitude in the Northern Hemisphere by measuring the angle between an observer's line of site to the North Star and line of site to the northern horizon was developed by: Ptolemy. Seneca. Eratosthenes. Herodotus. Pytheas.

Pytheas.

Which of the following contributed to the salinity of the ocean? Runoff caused dissolved elements to enter the ocean. The differences in oceanic and continental crust. The creation of acid rain from volcanic outgassing. The evolution of life on Earth Chlorine gas from the atmosphere was dissolved in the water.

Runoff caused dissolved elements to enter the ocean. The creation of acid rain from volcanic outgassing. Chlorine gas from the atmosphere was dissolved in the water.

Prior to 1768, which of the following claimed the most human lives at sea? Scurvy Shipwreck Gunfire Contagious disease

Scurvy

The nebular hypothesis suggests that ________. the Moon is derived from a protoplanet galaxies such as the Milky Way form independent of one another the Earth was formed by a cosmic explosion, a "big bang" Earth's moon is an asteroid captured by the Earth's gravity all bodies in the solar system formed from an enormous gas cloud

all bodies in the solar system formed from an enormous gas cloud

Where is the youngest ocean floor found? along the crest of mid-ocean ridges along chains of hot spot volcanoes along the edges of continentsa long the axis of ocean trenches

along the crest of mid-ocean ridges

Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-continental convergent plate boundaries? volcanic island arcs hot spots fracture zones andesitic volcanoes mid-ocean ridges

andesitic volcanoes

One of the reasons that free oxygen in our atmosphere is important to the development and maintenance of life on Earth is because oxygen: was very abundant in Earth's early atmosphere. combines with iron in volcanic rocks. is necessary for photosynthesis to occur. reduces atmospheric temperature. can form ozone and block some UV radiation.

can form ozone and block some UV radiation.

The Pacific Ocean is an example of the ________ stage of the Wilson Cycle. declining juvenile suturing terminal mature

declining

The separation of the Earth into layers while it was molten was the result of the: presence of water at Earth's surface. gravitational force created by the rotating Earth. differing densities of the elements that make up the Earth. initial collection of materials and their position in Earth. decrease in temperature downward toward the core.

differing densities of the elements that make up the Earth.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a: convergent plate boundary (continent-continent). convergent plate boundary (continent-oceanic). divergent plate boundary. transform fault boundary. convergent plate boundary (oceanic-oceanic).

divergent plate boundary.

Based on physical properties, Earth consists of ________ layers two five three four

five

The study of the structure of the sea floor and how the sea floor has changed through time is an example of ________ oceanography. physical chemical geological archaeological biological

geological

A cometary model of the formation of Earth's ocean must include the chemical difference between the ________ in comet ice and that in Earth's water. carbon nitrogen oxygen hydrogen

hydrogen

Based on the Theory of Plate Tectonics, you would expect to find ________ heat flow at the mid-ocean ridge and ________ heat flow at subduction zones when compared to other parts of the crust. increased; decreased increased; increased decreased; decreased decreased; increased

increased; decreased

Stanley Miller's famous experiment demonstrated that __________. living organisms can be produced by lightning strikes all the required factors have been identified for the production of living organisms the earliest organisms lived in volcanoes organic molecules could be produced from the mixture of gases comprising Earth's early atmosphere Earth's early atmosphere was rich in CO2, ammonia, and hydrogen

organic molecules could be produced from the mixture of gases comprising Earth's early atmosphere

The study of historical changes of continental shapes and positions is called: sedimentology. paleogeography. paleomagnetism. paleoclimatology.

paleogeography

The oldest fossilized remains of organisms are primitive ________ bacteria recovered from rocks formed on the sea floor about 3.5 billion years ago. chemosynthetic heterotrophic photosynthetic streptococcus

photosynthetic

The study of the transmission of light and sound in the oceans is an example of ________ oceanography. chemical archaeological geological biological physical

physical

Moving from an oceanic ridge to an oceanic trench, the thickness of the lithosphere: decreases in proportion to the distance. randomly varies. remains the same. is unrelated to the distance from the ridge. increases in proportion to the distance.

increases in proportion to the distance.

Current scientific knowledge indicates that the most likely origin of most of Earth's oceans was due to ________. water-bearing minerals found in meteorites water vapor released from volcanic outgassing release of liquid water from the core comets from outer space

water vapor released from volcanic outgassing

Which statement best describes the origin of Earth's oceans? The water that fills our oceans was mostly derived from outgassing, with a minor component coming from ice comets. The vast majority of the water that fills our oceans was derived from comets. Earth's oceans were outgassed exclusively from the interior of the planet during early formation. The Earth's oceans were created from nearly equal parts outgassing of the interior and icy comets colliding with Earth.

Earth's oceans were outgassed exclusively from the interior of the planet during early formation.

Which of the following is an example of the embryonic stage of the Wilson Cycle? East Africa Atlantic Ocean Red Sea Pacific Ocean Mediterranean Sea

East Africa

Who is credited with being the first person to accurately determine Earth's circumference? Claudius Ptolemy Christopher Columbus Erik Thorvaldson Eratosthenes Pytheas

Eratosthenes

What piece of evidence supports Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift? Records of glacial masses in the tropics indicate a worldwide ice age. Coal deposits that form in tropical swamps are absent from continents near the poles. Rocks of varying ages found in mountain chains separated by the Atlantic Ocean indicate that they formed at different times in history. Calculations of tidal forces show that this mechanism is sufficient to cause landmasses to move. Modern-day species that evolved in isolation share a common ancestor.

Modern-day species that evolved in isolation share a common ancestor.

What does NOAA stand for? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association National Oceanic and Atlas Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Oceanic and Atlas Association

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Kuiper Belt is located beyond the orbit of which planet? Jupiter Saturn Mars Pluto Neptune

Neptune

Which of the following is the most convincing piece of evidence set forth to support the concept of sea floor spreading? The correlation of rocks found in adjacent positions on matching continents The mid-ocean ridge is entirely volcanic in origin The mid-ocean ridge rises more than 2.5 kilometers above the surrounding deep-ocean floor The oceanic pattern of alternating reversals of Earth's magnetic field

The oceanic pattern of alternating reversals of Earth's magnetic field

According to the geological time scale, which selection lists the correct order of coexistence, from earliest to latest? Trilobites and amphibians, insects and dinosaurs, dinosaurs and birds, flowering plants and fishes, humans and reptiles Trilobites and amphibians, insects and dinosaurs, flowering plants and fishes, dinosaurs and birds, humans and reptiles Insects and dinosaurs, trilobites and amphibians, dinosaurs and birds, flowering plants and fishes, humans and reptiles Trilobites and amphibians, insects and dinosaurs, dinosaurs and birds, humans and reptiles, flowering plants and fishes Trilobites and amphibians, dinosaurs and birds, insects and dinosaurs, flowering plants and fishes, humans and reptiles

Trilobites and amphibians, insects and dinosaurs, dinosaurs and birds, flowering plants and fishes, humans and reptiles

Evidence shows that periodic reversals of Earth's magnetic field have resulted in __________. interruption of Earth's gravitational field apparent polar wandering mass extinction of life-forms a symmetrical pattern of normal and reverse magnetization in ocean crustal rocks along ridges and rises. seafloor spreading

a symmetrical pattern of normal and reverse magnetization in ocean crustal rocks along ridges and rises.

Oxygen comprises about ________ percent of the Earth's present atmosphere. 60 50 20 30 40

20

The average depth of the world's oceans is approximately ________. 840 meters (2,756 feet) 3,682 meters (12,080 feet) 11,022 meters (36,161 feet) 5,280 meters (17,323 feet) 2,172 meters (7,126 feet)

3,682 meters (12,080 feet)

Which of the following statements about the Pacific Ocean is TRUE? The Pacific Ocean is the second largest geographic feature on the planet. The Pacific Ocean covers more than two-thirds of the ocean surface area on Earth. The Pacific Ocean is about three times larger than the next largest ocean. The Pacific Ocean spans more than one-half of Earth's entire surface. All of the continents could fit into the space occupied by the Pacific Ocean.

All of the continents could fit into the space occupied by the Pacific Ocean.

The great oxidation event resulted in the massive die-off of which of the following? Dinosaurs Blue-green algae Land plants Anaerobic bacteria

Anaerobic bacteria

Which ocean basin is currently covered by extensive sea ice for much of the year? Indian Ocean Southern Ocean Pacific Arctic Atlantic Ocean

Arctic

Who of the following is thought to be the first Viking to have seen what is now called Newfoundland? Erik Thorvaldson Leif Eriksson Bjarni Herjolfsson Prince Henry the Navigator Thor Heyerdahl

Bjarni Herjolfsson

Trilobites were dominant during which geologic period? Jurassic Cambrian Ordovician Devonian Permian

Cambrian

Which of the following is the main reason that Earth has a magnetic field? Convection of the silicate materials in the asthenosphere generates a magnetic field. Convection in the liquid iron-nickel outer core generates a magnetic field. The Sun has such a powerful magnetic field that it creates a magnetic field on Earth. The solid inner core spins rapidly in the opposite direction as Earth rotates. The solid iron-nickel inner core spins in the same direction as Earth, but much faster.

Convection in the liquid iron-nickel outer core generates a magnetic field.

What is the motion of a declining stage of the Wilson cycle? Uplift Convergence (collision) Convergence and uplift Convergence (subduction) Divergence

Convergence (subduction)

The Himalayan Mountains and Alps are geographic examples of which type of plate boundary? Divergent Transform Convergent

Convergent

Which of the following statements about coral reefs and seamounts is most accurate? Seamounts at the ocean surface grow towards coral reefs over time. Coral reefs at the ocean surface grow towards seamounts over time. Seamounts at the ocean surface grow away from coral reefs over time. Coral reefs at the ocean surface grow away from seamounts over time.

Coral reefs at the ocean surface grow away from seamounts over time.

What did Stanley Miller's experiment demonstrate? Stanley Miller's experiment demonstrated how the water that makes up the oceans and atmosphere could be outgassed from Earth's interior. Stanley Miller's experiment demonstrated that vast amounts of complex organic molecules, such as proteins and DNA, could have been produced in Earth's early oceans (a "biotic soup"). Stanley Miller's experiments demonstrated the salinity of the oceans using synthesized prebiotic materials. Stanley Miller's experiment demonstrated that organic molecules could not have been produced in Earth's early oceans. Stanley Miller's experiment demonstrated that vast amounts of simple organic molecules could have been produced in Earth's early oceans (a "prebiotic soup").

Stanley Miller's experiment demonstrated that vast amounts of simple organic molecules could have been produced in Earth's early oceans (a "prebiotic soup").

Based on definition, it is more appropriate to consider which ocean as a sea? The Pacific Ocean The Atlantic Ocean The Indian Ocean The Arctic Ocean The Antarctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean

What would happen to Earth if ocean floor were created at divergent boundaries at a faster rate than it is destroyed at convergent boundaries? The Earth would decrease in mass. The Earth would increase in volume. The Earth would decrease in volume. The Earth would increase in mass.

The Earth would increase in volume.

Which ocean is actually a part of three other oceans? The Atlantic Ocean The Indian Ocean The Southern Ocean The Arctic Ocean The Pacific Ocean

The Southern Ocean

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding Earth's oceans? The Southern Ocean is one of the least-studied areas on planet Earth .The Indian Ocean is about 7% the size of the Pacific Ocean. NASA satellites fly over Antarctica. Earth's ocean is one big interconnected body of water. The Arctic is a continent surrounded by land, whereas the Antarctic is an ocean surrounded by continents.

The Southern Ocean is one of the least-studied areas on planet Earth NASA satellites fly over Antarctica. Earth's ocean is one big interconnected body of water.

How do the physical properties of the asthenosphere differ from the lithosphere? The athenosphere is a plastic or malleable region of Earth's interior, whereas the lithosphere is a liquified rock layer. Both are capable of flow. The athenosphere is plastic or malleable and capable of slow flow. The lithosphere is a brittle and rigid solid region comprised mosly of basalt and granite. The athenosphere is a brittle, solid region. The lithosphere is a plastic or malleable rock layer that is capable of flow. The athenosphere is a brittle, low-density region composed of continental and oceanic crust. The lithosphere is a plastic or malleable, high-density region composed of oceanic crust.

The athenosphere is plastic or malleable and capable of slow flow. The lithosphere is a brittle and rigid solid region comprised mosly of basalt and granite.

Two containers hold the same radioactive isotope. Container A contains 1000 atoms, and container B contains 500 atoms. Which of the following statements about containers A and B is true? The rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container B is greater (or longer) than the rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container A. The rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container B is the same as the rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container A. The rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container A is greater (or longer) than the rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container B.

The rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container B is the same as the rate of decay of atoms (half-life) in container A.

What is scurvy? Vitamin E deficiency Vitamin C deficiency Vitamin A deficiency Vitamin B deficiency Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin C deficiency

The mechanism by which populations evolve and new species develop is called: natural selection. evolution. adaptation. descent with modification. intelligent design.

natural selection.

Which geologic features are associated with convergent boundaries? ocean trenches and volcanoes mid-ocean ridges and volcanoes mid-ocean ridges and continental rift valleys ocean trenches and continental rift valleys

ocean trenches and volcanoes

Compared to the rest of the planet, an unusually high concentration of hotspots and rifting is located on the continent of Africa. A likely explanation for this is that __________. Africa is just very large mantle plumes do not occur at divergent plate boundaries, and Africa has no divergent plate boundaries the African Plate is essentially stationary with respect to Earth's interior and the thick continental crust acts as a "heat blanket" the thick continental crust acts as a "heat blanket" and a large portion of Africa is located near the equator a large portion of Africa is located near the equator

the African Plate is essentially stationary with respect to Earth's interior and the thick continental crust acts as a "heat blanket"

What is the scientific definition of half-life? the number of parent isotopes that will be lost during a single radioactive decay event the amount of time over which the number of parent isotopes decreases by half the amount of time over which the number of daughter isotopes increases by half the number of daughter isotopes that will be gained during a single radioactive decay event

the amount of time over which the number of parent isotopes decreases by half

Plate tectonics and evolution, which are held with a high degree of confidence because of rigorous testing and verification, are examples of: theories. laws. observations. hypotheses. guesses.

theories.

Based on chemical composition, Earth consists of ________ layers two three five four

three