OCE1001 FSU Ch.7

Which of the following methods are used to measure ocean surface currents directly? Pressure gradients Doppler flow meters Radar altimeters Accidental spills from container ships Anchored buoys

Accidental spills from container ships

Based on the graph, which of the following has the highest density? Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW) North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW) North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)

Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)

Based on the graph, which of the following has the lowest temperature? Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW) North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW) North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)

Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)

Which of the following is the only current that completely circumscribes Earth? Benguela South Equatorial Malvinas South Australian Antarctic Circumpolar

Antarctic Circumpolar

Based on the graph, which of the following has the lowest salinity? Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW) North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW) North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)

Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW)

Which of the following methods are used to measure ocean surface currents indirectly? Radio-transmitting float bottles Free-drifting Argo floats Accidental spills from container ships Doppler flow meters Propeller flow meters

Doppler flow meters

The observation that ships and icebergs in the southern hemisphere float to the left of the wind direction is an example of which of the following? Western intensification Ekman transport Geostrophic current Eastern intensification Equatorial upwelling

Ekman transport

One of the world's most powerful currents, located off the east coast of the United States, is the __________. Canary Current North Atlantic Current North Equatorial Current Gulf Stream Kuroshio Current

Gulf Stream

Which of the following currents is responsible for Peru becoming the largest producer of fish, from the sea, in the world? Canary Current Humboldt Current Somali Current Brazil Current Falkland Current

Humboldt Current

What is the Walker Circulation Cell? It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the North Pacific under normal conditions. It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the South Atlantic under normal conditions. It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the South Pacific under normal conditions. It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the South Pacific under El Niño conditions. It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the South Atlantic under El Niño conditions.

It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the South Pacific under normal conditions.

Based on the graph, which of the following has the highest salinity? Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW) North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW) North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)

Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW)

The Gulf Stream transports warm water into the __________. Gulf of Mexico Eastern Atlantic Caribbean Sea South Atlantic North Atlantic

North Atlantic

Based on the graph, which of the following has the highest temperature? Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW) North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW) North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)

North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW)

Based on the graph, which of the following has the lowest density? Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW) Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW) North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW) North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)

North Atlantic Central Surface Water (NACSW)

Between summer and winter, which of the following currents reverses its flow direction? Florida Current Falkland Current Brazil Current Somali Current California Current

Somali Current

The deepest and densest water mass in the world ocean is formed in the __________________. Arctic Ocean Indian Ocean North Atlantic North Pacific Southern Ocean

Southern Ocean

The observation of a hill of water within all subtropical gyres is an example of which of the following? Equatorial upwelling Western intensification Eastern intensification Subtropical convergence Geostrophic current

Subtropical convergence

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? The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually wet weather. The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually cool weather. The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually dry weather. The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually warm weather.

The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually dry weather.

About what percent of the wind's energy is transferred to the ocean surface? Two Twenty Ten Fifty Five

Two

Which of the following is true of surface water circulation near Antarctica? It is dominated by water flow directly away from the polar region toward the north. Two circumpolar currents dominate it, one current that moves water to the east and one current that moves water to the west. There is no connection with the southern hemisphere subtropical gyres. The surface ocean has no strong currents. The circulation of water around the Antarctic continent is driven by density differences.

Two circumpolar currents dominate it, one current that moves water to the east and one current that moves water to the west.

The largest of the great ocean surface currents is the __________. West Wind Drift Gulf Stream Equatorial Countercurrent Kuroshio Current California Current

West Wind Drift

Which of the following currents goes all the way around the world without being interrupted by land? East Wind Drift North Equatorial Current West Wind Drift Labrador Current Equatorial Countercurrent

West Wind Drift

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 Geostrophic current Eastern intensification Equatorial upwelling Ekman transport

Western intensification

Why does upwelling occur along the west coast of South America under normal conditions? Winds moving southward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the south; deep water rises to replace water driven southward. Winds moving northward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the north; deep water rises to replace water driven northward. Winds moving eastward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the east; deep water rises to replace water driven eastward. Winds moving westward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the west; deep water rises to replace water driven westward.

Winds moving westward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the west; deep water rises to replace water driven westward.

The thermocline is _________________. a steep gradient in the ocean that separates deeper saltier water from less salty upper water a steep temperature gradient in the ocean that separates deeper warm water from colder upper water a steep temperature gradient in the ocean that separates deeper cold water from warmer upper water a steep gradient in the ocean that separates deeper less salty water from saltier upper water.

a steep temperature gradient in the ocean that separates deeper cold water from warmer upper water

Compared to western boundary currents, eastern boundary currents are: broad and deep. shallow and swift. deep and swift. narrow and deep. broad and slow.

broad and slow.

When a meander from the Gulf Stream pinches off into the warm water south of the current, the eddy is called a __________. warm-core eddy or ring geostrophic circulation Langmuir cell cyclonic circulation cold-core eddy or ring

cold-core eddy or ring

Downwelling can result from __________. strong offshore winds converging surface currents Ekman transport away from a coast diverging surface currents an ocean current flowing over submerged banks or seamounts

converging surface currents

An increase in seawater density can be caused by a ________ in temperature or a/an ________ in salinity. decrease; increase increase; increase decrease; decrease increase; decrease

decrease; increase

Deep ocean currents are driven primarily by ________ . density differences bathymetry wind latitude Earth's rotation

density differences

Thermohaline circulation is driven by: longitude. the Coriolis effect. wind. density differences. latitude.

density differences.

Converging surface waters are areas of ________ and ________ productivity. upwelling; low downwelling; high downwelling; low upwelling; high

downwelling; low

Which direction do ocean currents in the South Pacific move under El Niño conditions? southward eastward northward westward

eastward

Ocean frontal systems that spin off from currents such as the Gulf Stream, akin to atmospheric storms, are known as __________. geostrophic flow eddies meanders

eddies

Deep-water currents move ________ volumes of water and are much ________ than surface currents. smaller; slower smaller; faster larger; faster larger; slower

larger; slower

What is the overall effect of the stronger than normal trade winds typical of La Niña conditions? raising of the South Pacific ocean temperature from normal conditions swapping of the South Pacific high and low pressure zones from normal conditions flipping of the South Pacific ocean current direction from normal conditions lowering of the South Pacific ocean temperature from normal conditions

lowering of the South Pacific ocean temperature from normal conditions

Fluctuations in the flow of the Gulf Stream current result in curving loops of water known as __________. eddies fronts meanders

meanders

Warm currents flowing ________ on the ________ sides of continents produce warm, humid conditions. poleward; eastern toward the equator; western toward the equator; eastern poleward; western

poleward; eastern

Records indicate that the ocean is warming faster in the Arctic polar regions than elsewhere. If that continues, a possible consequence could be __________. increased albedo in the polar areas, resulting in the cooling of nearby landmasses decreased humidity and precipitation in the Arctic region, resulting in aridity and the loss of boreal forests an increase in upwelling in the Arctic, resulting in increased surface biological productivity slowing of deep ocean circulation, resulting in lower oxygen levels in deep water acceleration of deep ocean circulation, resulting in lower carbon dioxide levels in deep water

slowing of deep ocean circulation, resulting in lower oxygen levels in deep water

Sources of deep water in the ocean include all of the following except: northern subpolar latitudes. southern subpolar latitudes. Arctic convergence. Antarctic convergence. subtropical convergences.

subtropical convergences.

In comparison to wind energy, ocean currents can generate more clean, renewable energy because __________. water turbines experience less fouling than wind turbines the density of water is greater than that of air water currents move more slowly than air currents devices that harness subsurface current energy are not exposed to weather like wind farms currents are more consistent than winds

the density of water is greater than that of air

Under which conditions are droughts and wildfires common in Australia? under La Niña conditions under normal conditions under Walker Circulation conditions under El Niño conditions

under El Niño conditions

Surface waters are pushed away from land and replaced by nutrient-rich bottom water through: sea breezes. land breezes. upwelling. convergence. downwelling.

upwelling

Diverging surface waters are areas of ________ and ________ productivity. downwelling; low upwelling; high downwelling; high upwelling; low

upwelling; high

Surface ocean currents are driven primarily by ________ and modified by ________. density differences; the Coriolis effect and land wind; gravity and density latitude; differences in salinity and land wind; the Coriolis effect and land density differences; differences in salinity and temperature

wind; the Coriolis effect and land

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding surface ocean currents? Choose all that apply. Eastern boundary currents are those off the east coast of each continent. Surface currents curve to the right due to the Coriolis effect. Cold currents flow at high latitudes or from higher latitudes toward the equator. Gyres in the Southern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise. Equatorial currents are warm and equatorial countercurrents are cold.

-Cold currents flow at high latitudes or from higher latitudes toward the equator. -Gyres in the Southern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.

Why does the west coast of South Africa have high biological productivity? Choose all that apply. low concentrations of phytoplankton winds blowing away from shore lots of coastal upwelling lots of coastal downwelling high concentrations of nutrients in the surface water

-lots of coastal upwelling -high concentrations of nutrients in the surface water

Which of the following two factors cause geostrophic circulation within a gyre? the wind and pressure. density and the wind. gravity and the Coriolis effect. salinity and gravity. temperature and pressure.

gravity and the Coriolis effect.

Deep-water circulation brings oxygen from the surface to the deep ocean because of: increase in pH with depth. greater volcanic outgassing at the ocean surface. greater rates of photosynthesis in deep water. greater dissolution of oxygen in colder water than warmer water. decrease in pH with depth.

greater dissolution of oxygen in colder water than warmer water.

The El Niño Southern Oscillation can best be described as: tidal differences between coastal Peru and Darwin, Australia. variation in wind speed over the Pacific Ocean. the relationship between sea surface temperature and changing atmospheric pressure. relative changes between two different atmospheric pressure systems at high altitude. wind speed and wind direction differences along the equator.

the relationship between sea surface temperature and changing atmospheric pressure.

What is the Southern Oscillation? the swapping of high and low temperature zones in the South Pacific under normal conditions the swapping of high and low temperature zones in the South Pacific under El Niño conditions the swapping of high and low pressure zones in the South Pacific under normal conditions the swapping of high and low pressure zones in the South Pacific under El Niño conditions

the swapping of high and low pressure zones in the South Pacific under El Niño conditions

Cold currents flowing ________ on the ________ sides of continents produce arid conditions. poleward; western toward the equator; eastern poleward; eastern toward the equator; western

toward the equator; western

Equatorial currents are driven by the: trade winds. Ekman transport. Coriolis force. westerlies. density.

trade winds.

Which factor(s) below drive(s) and shape(s) the pattern of surface ocean currents? Choose all that apply. Coriolis effect wind density salinity shape of the ocean basin

-Coriolis effect -wind -shape of the ocean basin

Of the following conditions, which is/are related to strong El Niño events? Choose all that apply. Increase in productivity along coastal South America Higher sea levels in the eastern Pacific Ocean associated with warmer water Increase in sea surface temperatures and destruction of coral reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean Increase in the strength and consistency of the trade winds Increased abundance of hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean

-Higher sea levels in the eastern Pacific Ocean associated with warmer water -Increase in sea surface temperatures and destruction of coral reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean -Increased abundance of hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Of the following surface currents, which one(s) transport large volumes of warm water to higher latitudes? Choose all that apply. Kuroshio Current North Pacific Current Brazil Current the Gulf Stream Peru Current Canary Current

-Kuroshio Current -Brazil Current -the Gulf Stream

Which of the following are western boundary currents? Choose all that apply. Kuroshio Current East Australia Current West Australia Current California Current Brazil Current

-Kuroshio Current -East Australia Current -Brazil Current

On a west coast in the Northern Hemisphere, what happens to surface waters when winds blow from the south? Choose all that apply. Surface waters move northward, causing a strong coastal current. Surface waters move onshore. Surface waters move offshore. Upwelling occurs. Downwelling occurs.

-Surface waters move onshore. -Downwelling occurs.

Of the following statements about subtropical gyres, which is/are true? Choose all that apply. The centers of all subtropical gyres are associated with high atmospheric pressure. The rotation of each subtropical gyre causes a "hill" of water to pile up within it. There are four main surface currents in each subtropical gyre. The western boundary current of all subtropical gyres is intensified (it is fast, narrow, and deep). Globally, there are five subtropical gyres. All subtropical gyres flow in a clockwise direction.

-The centers of all subtropical gyres are associated with high atmospheric pressure. -The rotation of each subtropical gyre causes a "hill" of water to pile up within it. -There are four main surface currents in each subtropical gyre. -The western boundary current of all subtropical gyres is intensified (it is fast, narrow, and deep). -Globally, there are five subtropical gyres.

On a west coast in the Northern Hemisphere, what happens to surface waters when winds blow from the north? Choose all that apply. Surface waters move onshore. Upwelling occurs. Surface waters move offshore. Downwelling occurs. Surface waters move southward, causing a strong coastal current.

-Upwelling occurs. -Surface waters move offshore.