Ch7
Of the following locations, where would upwelling be expected to occur?
-Seamounts/tablemounts -Diverging surface currents -Sharp bend
In which direction does the surface current move in relation to the wind in the Southern Hemisphere?
45 degrees to the left
Which current that flows along the equator is driven by a difference in sea level caused by ocean circulation patterns?
Equatorial Countercurrent in the Pacific Ocean
One of the world's most powerful currents, located off the east coast of the United States, is the _________
Gulf Stream
Which ocean current is the strongest and fastest ocean current in the world?
Gulf Stream
In the figure above, which of the labeled currents are eastern boundary currents?
H, C, N
In the figure above, which of the labeled currents are shallow, weak, and slow currents?
H, N
Ocean frontal systems that spin off from currents such as the Gulf Stream, akin to atmospheric storms, are known as _________
eddies
What is the overall effect of the stronger than normal trade winds typical of La Niña conditions?
lowering of the South Pacific ocean
Fluctuations in the flow of the Gulf Stream current result in curving loops of water known as _________
meanders
What is the Southern Oscillation?
pressure zones, El Niño
Under which conditions are droughts and wildfires common in Australia?
under El Niño conditions
What factors drive Ekman transport?
-wind -Coriolis effect
What is the Walker Circulation Cell?
... in the South Pacific under normal conditions
Downwelling can result from _____
Converging surface currents
Why do the lengths of the arrows in the Ekman spiral get shorter and shorter as you move deeper into the water column?
Deeper water moves at a slower speed due to friction
Refer the figure above. In which direction would the entire surface current underneath the Greenland iceberg be expected to travel?
E
In the figure, which of the labeled currents are warm water currents?
E, F, B
The Gulf Stream transports warm water into the ________
North Atlantic
Why does upwelling occur along the west coast of South America under normal conditions?
Westward x2
When a meander from the Gulf Stream pinches off into the warm water south of the current, the eddy is called a __________
cold-core eddy or ring
Which direction do ocean currents in the South Pacific move under El Niño conditions?
eastward
A thermocline is _____
temperature gradient, separates deeper cold water from warm upper water
In the figure above, depicting a hypothetical wind direction in an ideal world. The iceberg broke off from the Greenland Ice Sheet and floated into the ocean. Under the prevailing wind conditions, in which direction would the iceberg be pushed?
toward D
What would you expect weather to be like on the eastern coast of Australia if the western coast of South America were experiencing unusually warm, wet weather?
unusually DRY weather