quiz 5

How fast does a tsunami move?

a tsunami usually moves at about 70 miles per hour.

How can wind-driven horizontal movement of water induce vertical movement in surface water?

the horizontal movement of water due to surface winds can bring about vertical movements of water.

How does the wavelength of a wind wave affect its speed?

the longer the wavelength the higher the speed.

What is the relationship between surface currents and the climate of adjacent continents?

the movement of cooler water to lower latitudes and warm water to higher latitudes affects climates by transporting heat.

What are the types of ocean waves, arranged by disturbing force and wavelength?

capillary and wind waves are caused by wind and have the smallest wavelengths, seiche waves are formed by changes and atmospheric pressure and have a wide range of wavelengths based on the ocean basin, seismic sea waves are caused by faulting sea floor and have a wavelength of 125 miles, tides are caused by gravity and have a wavelength of half the worlds circumference.

What drives the vertical movement of ocean water? What is the general pattern of thermohaline circulation?

differences in density drive vertical movement of ocean water. it happens throughout the ocean

How is La Niña different from El Niño?

el nino is an eastward moving mass of extremely warm water while la nina is the opposite colder masses of water following normal circulation patterns.

How is upwelling linked to biological productivity?

it brings cold deep nutrient laden water to the surface where it can take in sunlight and conduct photosynthesis.

How does the length of time required for completion of a circuit of surface circulation compare with that needed for thermohaline circulation?

it is much longer to complete a circuit of surface circulation than thermohaline circulation.

What causes tsunami? Do all geological displacements cause tsunami?

sudden vertical movements by the earth along faults. not all geological displacement causes tsunamis

What causes the two major types of ocean currents?

surface currents are caused by wind while thermohaline currents are caused by density differences caused by salinity and temperatures.

What is meant by "westward intensification"? Why are western boundary currents so fast and deep?

the westward currents are deeper and faster this effect is known as westward intensification its caused by the Coriolis effect the terrain is steeper on the western edge causing currents to move faster.

Are the wave speed and period of an internal wave comparable to those of a wind wave? A tsunami?

they are much slower than surface waves

What causes a storm surge? Why is a storm surge so dangerous?

tropical storms or hurricanes cause them. they are so dangerous because they can flood costal residences without much warning.

Compare and contrast western boundary currents to eastern boundary currents.

western boundary currents are the fastest and deepest boundary currents. they move warm water towards the poles. eastern currents are the opposite slow shallow and wide and move cold water towards the equator.

What's a rogue wave? Are rogue waves potentially dangerous?

when the crests of multiple waves come together and form one huge wave and they are potentially dangerous.

How are wind waves formed? What's a fetch?

wind waves are formed by the wind blowing over the ocean fetch is the distance wind blows without a change in direction.