Oceanography: Chapter 7 Ocean Circulation

geostrophic circulation within a gyre is driven by ___________.

gravity and the coriolis effect

deep ocean currents are driven primarily by _______ and caused by _______.

density differences; differences in salinity and temperature

deep ocean currents are driven by

density differences

converging surface waters are areas of _______ and _______ productivity.

downwelling; low

deep-water currents move ________ volumes of water and are much ________ than surface currents.

larger; slower

the El Nino Southern Oscillation can best be described as _______.

the relationship between sea surface temperature and changing atmospheric pressure

surface waters are pushed away from land and replaced by nutrient-rich deep water through __________.

upwelling

diverging surface waters are areas of ________ and _________ productivity.

upwelling; high

the observation that one subtropical boundary current is faster, narrower, and deeper than its counterparts is an example of which of the following?

western intensification

surface ocean currents are driven primarily by _______ and modified by ______.

wind; the coriolis effect and land

which of the following is the only current that completely circumscribes earth?

antarctic circumpolar

compared to western boundary currents, eastern boundary currents are _______.

broad and slow

an increase in seawater density can be caused by a _________ in temperature or a/an _________ in salinity.

decrease; increase

coastal winds can cause upwelling or downwelling due to which of the following?

ekman transport

during winter months, monsoon winds over the Indian Ocean ________.

flow from land to sea and are dry

warm currents flowing _______ on the _______ sides of continents produce warm, humid conditions.

poleward; eastern

which of the following statements is true of surface ocean currents?

surface currents form circular patterns in the major ocean basins called "gyres"

western intensification causes _________.

the center of the gyre to be shifted to the west

the Ekman spiral is caused by ________.

the wind and the coriolis effect

equatorial currents are driven by the _________.

trade winds