exam 3 ch 15
Identify the TRUE statement. Seamounts A. are hot-spot volcanoes whose peaks lie below sea level. B. form at locations of sea floor spreading at divergent plate boundaries. C. are long troughs bordered by volcanic arcs. D. form when one plate shears sideways past another.
A. are hot-spot volcanoes whose peaks lie below sea level.
Identify the FALSE statement. Submarine canyons A. are narrow, deep valleys cut into the abyssal plain. B. can reach depths of almost 1,000 m. C. are continually eroded by the flow of submarine avalanches. D. can begin to form offshore of major rivers.
A. are narrow, deep valleys cut into the abyssal plain.
All seas A. have salinity ranging between 1 and 4.1%. B. have a surface temperature of 17°C, ± 2°C. C. have similar floors consisting of wide, gently sloping continental shelves, steeper continental slopes, gentle rises, and flat plains. D. have calm bottom waters with no apparent circulation.
A. have salinity ranging between 1 and 4.1%
Identify the FALSE statement about the following diagram. This image shows the ocean "conveyor belt," which A. mixes the entire oceans every 1.5 million years. B. forms due to changes in the density of seawater. C. sinks in polar latitudes, forming deep, cold salty water masses. D. exhibits thermohaline circulation of the ocean basins.
A. mixes the entire oceans every 1.5 million years.
What term has nothing to do with protecting beaches from erosion? A. sea stacks B. jetties C. breakwaters D. seawalls
A. sea stacks
What force causes the tidal bulge on the side of the Earth opposite the Moon (the secondary bulge)? A. the centrifugal force caused by the orbiting of the Earth-Moon system around its center of mass B. the centripetal force caused by the orbiting of the Earth-Moon system around its center of mass C. the Sun's gravitational attraction D. the Moon's gravitational attraction
A. the centrifugal force caused by the orbiting of the Earth-Moon system around its center of mass
Identify the FALSE statement. A. If all ocean water evaporated, a 60-m-thick layer of salt would form on the ocean floor. B. Saltier water generally floats above fresher water. C. Warmer water can hold more salt in solution than cold water. D. Oceans are less salty near the mouths of large rivers.
B. Saltier water generally floats above fresher water.
Identify the FALSE statement. A. The thermocline is the level below which water temperature drops sharply. B. The thermocline occurs at a depth of 300 m in the tropics but only 100 m in the polarregions. C. Sea-surface temperature has greater seasonal variation in the temperate latitudes than in the tropics. D. Sea-surface temperature varies much less than seasonal temperature changes on land.
B. The thermocline occurs at a depth of 300 m in the tropics but only 100 m in the polarregions.
Identify the TRUE statement. A. Tidal reach means the farthest inland the water goes at high tide. B. The tide-generating force creates two bulges in the oceans on opposite sides of Earth. C. The tide-generating force is a combination of only two forces, the gravitational attractions of the Sun and Moon. D. Since the Sun is much larger than the Moon, its gravity is the biggest contributing factor to the tide-generating force.
B. The tide-generating force creates two bulges in the oceans on opposite sides of Earth.
The form and topography (depth profile) of the ocean floor is termed .. a. oregeny b. bathymetry c. allocthony d. aquitopography
B. bathymetry
In the following diagram, the thin black line indicates the movement of seaweed from Time 1 to Time 2. The movement of the seaweed in a sawtooth pattern along the shoreline is called A. tidal bulge. B. longshore drift C. rip currents D. the Coriolis effect.
B. longshore drift
Identify the FALSE statement. Upwelling zones A. are areas where water flows in a vertical direction. B. result when water deflected in toward the coast creates an oversupply there. C. bring nutrients up from depth. D. occur near the equator to replace water displaced by winds blowing steadily from east to west.
B. result when water deflected in toward the coast creates an oversupply there.
Tidal reach is affected by ... a. the slope of the coastline b. the position of the Sun c. Both A and B are correct D. none of the above is correct
B. the position of the Sun
Compared to continental lithosphere, oceanic lithosphere is ____________. A. thicker B. thinner C. approximately the same thickness
B. thinner
Approximately what percentage of Earth's surface is covered with water? A. 30% B. 50% C. 70% D. 85%
C. 70%
Identify the FALSE statement. A. A particle of water in a wave moves in a circular motion when viewed in cross section. B. Submarines traveling deeper than about half the prevailing wavelength in an area (the wave base) would experience smooth water. C. Constructive interference of comparable-sized swells tends to cancel them out and produce smooth water. D. The character of waves in open seas depends on the strength and fetch of the wind.
C. Constructive interference of comparable-sized swells tends to cancel them out and produce smooth water.
Trenches A. result from sea-floor spreading. B. are found at divergent-plate boundaries. C. border continental and island volcanic arcs. D. may be over 100 km (62 mi) deep.
C. border continental and island volcanic arcs.
The magnitude of tidal effect (lateral extent of the intertidal zone between low and high tides) is affected by the ____________. a. the slope of the coastline b. the position of the Sun c. Both A and B are correct d. None of the above is correct
C. both A and B are correct
Pick out the appropriate pair of terms to match this statement- a surfer loves these; a swimmer hates these. A. swash, longshore currents B. rip currents, backwash C. breakers, rip currents D. embayments, sea stacks
C. breakers, rip currents
Identify the FALSE statement. Estuaries A. are valleys flooded by seawater. B. have brackish water in them. C. originated as glacial valleys. D. that are quiet can develop stratified water columns.
C. originated as glacial valleys.
Identify the FALSE statement. Ocean water A. has an average salinity of 3.5%. B. contains dissolved salts, like halite and gypsum. C. salinity decreases as seawater evaporates. D. is more dense than freshwater.
C. salinity decreases as seawater evaporates.
Identify the FALSE statement. Rogue waves A. by definition, are more than twice the size of most large waves. B. can be high enough to swamp the decks of ocean liners. C. significantly erode seafloor sediments that sit below wave base. D. can be caused by the focusing effect of some coastline or sea-floor shapes.
C. significantly erode seafloor sediments that sit below wave base.
Identify the FALSE statement. A. Coral reefs are complex environments consisting of colonies of tiny invertebrates, algae, shell debris, and associated organisms. B. Coral reefs are classified on the basis of their shapes- fringing, barrier, or atoll. C. Corals grow only in clear, well-lit, warm water with normal oceanic salinity. D. Coral animals are tiny invertebrates that secrete silicic shells.
D. Coral animals are tiny invertebrates that secrete silicic shells.
A continental margin that coincides with a plate boundary is called A. a continental slope. B. an accretionary prism. C. a trench. D. an active margin.
D. an active margin
Identify the FALSE statement. The abyssal plains A. are underlain by cool oceanic lithosphere. B. of the western Atlantic Ocean stretch from the base of the continental rise to the base of the mid-ocean ridge. C. are covered by microscopic plankton shells and fine flakes of clay. D. are dissected by submarine canyons.
D. are dissected by submarine canyons.
Surface currents A. affect only the upper 30 feet of water. B. flow smoothly, with little or no turbulence. C. are found only in low- and mid-latitude areas. D. are influenced by Earth's rotation.
D. are influenced by Earth's rotation.
Identify the FALSE statement. The Coriolis effect A. is a phenomenon created by the rotation of Earth. B. is a deflection of wind or water flowing over Earth's surface. C. causes opposite directions of deflection in the northern and southern hemispheres. D. causes north-flowing currents in the northern hemisphere to curve to the west.
D. causes north-flowing currents in the northern hemisphere to curve to the west.
Which of the following are NOT living organisms? A. mangroves B. moss C. polyps D. groins
D. groins
Identify the FALSE statement. Hurricanes A. are huge storms that develop over warm tropical ocean water. B. can have winds exceeding 155 mph. C. wreak havoc in coastal regions due to excessive winds, strong waves, and storm surges. D. have a central zone of relatively calm weather called a typhoon.
D. have a central zone of relatively calm weather called a typhoon.
Identify the FALSE statement. Continental crust A. is more buoyant than ocean crust. B. sits higher than ocean crust. C. is composed of gabbro and basalt overlain by sediment. D. is thinner than ocean crust.
D. is thinner than ocean crust.
_____ make up a majority of the ocean floor worldwide. a. abyssal plains b.continental rises c.continental shelves d.continental slopes
a. abyssal plains
Which type of continental coastline features a much broader continental shelf? a. passive continental margins b. active continental margins
a. passive continental margins
Wave crests .. a. refract (bend) so as to impact the shore in a nearly parallel manner b. refract so as to impact the shore nearly perpendicular to the shoreline c. reflect directly backward from the angle at which they approached the shoreline d. are reflected off the shoreline, but never refract
a. refract (bend) so as to impact the shore in a nearly parallel manner
A coastline is more likely to consist of a tidal flat than a beach if .. a. the shore is protected from strong waves b. the shore is exposed to strong waves c. the shore is in a warm climate d. the shoreline runs east-west rather than north-south
a. the shore is protected from strong waves
Rogue waves arise from constructive interference of multiple convergent waves; these waves occasionally can be more than 100 feet high.; a.; true; b.; false
a. true
What percentage of seawater, on average, consists of dissolved salt ions? a. 1.5% b.3.5% c. 5.5% d. 6.5%
b. 3.5%
The most prominent force inducing tides on Earth is the .. a. sun's gravitational pull b. moon's gravitational pull c. electromagnetic attraction between Earth and the Sun d. gravitational attraction between ocean waters and the continents on Earth
b. Moon's gravitational pull
As waves approach shore in shallow water their speed .. a. increases b. decreases
b. decreases
The density of seawater increases with a. increasing temp. and increasing salinity b. decreasing temp. and increasing salinity c. increasing temp. and decreasing salinity d. decreasing temp. and decreasing salinity
b. decreasing temp. and increasing salinity
Rip currents flow .. a. directly toward the shoreline b. directly away from the shoreline c. parallel to the shoreline
b. directly away from the shoreline
If currents are largely directed toward shore, the area is likely to experience .. a. upwelling b. downwelling
b. downwelling
Every shoreline experiences a tidal reach (difference in elevation between high and low tide) of about 3 m. a. true b. false
b. false
When high tide occurs at any single shoreline, that means it is also high tide at all other coasts throughout the world. a. true b. falsw
b. false
Because of wave refraction, erosion along an irregular coastline is ________. a. even along the length of the coast b. greatest in headlands (points of land projected out toward the sea) c. greatest in bays
b. greatest in headlands (points of land projected out toward the sea)
Which trench includes the world's deepest seafloor (more than 11 km below sea level)? a. Peru-Chile trench b. Puerto Rican trench c. Mariana trench d. Kamchatka trench
c. Mariana trench
major oceanic surface currents travel a. parallel to the prevailing wind direction in the region b. in direct opposition to prevailing winds as a result of the Coriolis effect c. at an angle to prevailing winds as a result of the Coriolis effect d. at an angle to prevailing winds as a result of the Doppler effect
c. at an angle to prevailing winds as a result of the Coriolis effect
The shallowest portion of the ocean is found along the margins of continents in regions termed a. abyssal plains b. continental rises c. continental shelves d. continental slopes
c. continental shelves
most of the igneous rocks within oceanic abyssal plains are ___. a. exposed at the surface of the sea floor b. covered by sand and gravel introduced by rivers at deltas c. covered by clay and the skeletal remains of microplankton d. covered by limestones made up of the fragments of larger invertebrate shells
c. covered by clay and the skeletal remains of microplankton
As compared to freshwater, saline ocean water is ____________ and therefore provides ____________ support to floating objects.; a.; less dense; more buoyant; b.; less dense; less buoyant; c.; denser; more buoyant; d.; denser; less buoyant
c. denser; more buoyant
When sea level rises, the ocean may invade a river valley, producing a nearshore body of water of mixed and variable salinity termed a(n) _____. a. atoll b. lagoon c. estuary d. jetty
c. estuary
The strongest winds within a hurricane are found in the .. a. outermost rain bands b. eye c. eye wall d. relatively dry areas between bands
c. eyewall
Flooded valleys that were excavated by glaciers are termed ___________? a.; deltas; b.; tombolos; c.; fjords; d.; fords
c. fjords
Tidal reach will be greatest locally during a .. a. full or last quarter moon b. full or first quarter moon c. full or new moon d. first quarter or last quarter moon
c. full or new moon
sand groins .. a. have solved the problem of the beach drift b. increase the erosion rates in the region upcurrent from the groin c. increase the erosion rates in the region downcurrent from the groin d. increase the depositional rates in the region downcurrent from the groin
c. increase erosion rates in the region downcurrent from the groin
Longshore currents flow .. a. directly toward the shoreline b. directly away from the shoreline c. parallel to the shoreline
c. parallel to the shoreline
A wave will disturb the water to a depth equal to .. a. its wavelength b. its surface amplitude c. the bottom of the seafloor d. one-half of its wavelength
d. 1/2 of its wavelength
Global circulation of ocean water is influenced by .. a. surface winds b. coastal upwelling and downwelling c. sinking of cold and saline water d. all of the above
d. all of the above
Estuaries most commonly have salinity that is .. a. identical to normal marine salinity b. identical to freshwater c. hypersaline (greater than normal marine salinity) d. brackish (between freshwater and marine salinity)
d. brackish (between freshwater and marine salinity)
Of the choices below, which portions of the sea floor are most steeply tilted? a. abyssal plains b. continental rises c. continental shelves d. continental slopes
d. continental slopes
A bathymetric map of the ocean would utilize contours to connect points of equal a. surface salinity b. surface temperature c. temp. at seafloor d. depth of the seafloor below sea level
d. depth of the seafloor below sea level
as compared to continental interiors, surface temperatures in coastal regions .. a. are warmer throughout the year b. are colder throughout the year c. experience a more extreme range throughout the year d. experience a less extreme range throughout the year
d. experience a less extreme range throughout the year
Wave refraction causes longshore currents to travel .. a. directly longshore b. from embayments toward headlands c. directly offshore d. from headlands toward embayments
d. from headlands toward embayments
The deepest segments of the ocean floor are found a. along mid-ocean ridges b. in the geographic centers of abyssal plains c. in trenches associated with passive margins d. in trenches associated with subduction zones
d. in trenches associated with subduction zones
Due to the Coriolis effect, surface currents in the oceans are always pulled to the .. in the northern hemisphere as compared to the prevailing wind direction. a. north b. east c. right d. left
d. left
At the equatorial ocean basins, sea surface temperatures may reach 30C or greater; at the seafloor 5 km below, the temperature is .. a. slightly warmer (33C) b. about room temperature (25C) c. cool (10-15C) d. near freezing (2-4C)
d. near freezing (2-4C)
