Ocean Chapter 2 review questions

Loihi is __________. A. the newest Hawaiian volcano B. the geophysical boundary between the crust and the mantle C. a volcanic rock of intermediate composition D. a flat-topped seamount E. a prehistoric palm tree

A. the newest Hawaiian volcano

Iceland is located on what type of plate boundary? A. Oceanic/continental B. Continental/continental convergent C. Divergent D. Transform E. Oceanic/oceanic convergent

C. Divergent

Compared to the rest of the planet, an unusually high concentration of hot spots and rifting is located on the continent of Africa. A likely explanation for this is that __________. A. the thick continental crust acts as a "heat blanket" and a large portion of Africa is located near the equator B. mantle plumes do not occur at divergent plate boundaries, and Africa has no divergent plate boundaries C. the African Plate is essentially stationary with respect to Earth's interior and the thick continental crust acts as a "heat blanket" D. a large portion of Africa is located near the equator E. Africa is just very large

C. the African Plate is essentially stationary with respect to Earth's interior and the thick continental crust acts as a "heat blanket"

Sea floor spreading along the axis of an oceanic ridge results in symmetrical patterns of all of the following EXCEPT ______________. A. the depth of the sea floor B. the age of the sea floor C. the location of subduction zones D. the flow of heat through the crust E. the paleomagnetic record

C. the location of subduction zones

Which of the following is the main reason that Earth has a magnetic field? Select only one answer. A. Convection in the liquid iron-nickel outer core generates a magnetic field. B. The Sun has such a powerful magnetic field that it creates a magnetic field on Earth. C. The solid iron-nickel inner core spins rapidly in the same direction as Earth, but much faster. D. There is a giant bar magnet inside Earth. E. The solid iron-nickel inner core spins rapidly in the opposite direction.

A. Convection in the liquid iron-nickel outer core generates a magnetic field.

Of the following statements about nemataths and volcanic arcs, which is/are true? A. In a volcanic arc, any of the volcanoes can be active at any time. B. In a nematath, the age of the volcanoes progressively decreases as you move closer to the volcanic source. C. A volcanic arc is associated with a convergent plate boundary. D. Nemataths and volcanic arcs are both the result of volcanic activity. E. A nematath is created by a hotspot.

A. In a volcanic arc, any of the volcanoes can be active at any time. B. In a nematath, the age of the volcanoes progressively decreases as you move closer to the volcanic source. C. A volcanic arc is associated with a convergent plate boundary. D. Nemataths and volcanic arcs are both the result of volcanic activity. E. A nematath is created by a hotspot.

Of the following statements about Earth's magnetic field, which is/are true? A. The locations of Earth's magnetic poles have moved through time and have even reversed in polarity. B. The magnetic field is oriented horizontal (parallel) to Earth's surface at the magnetic equator. C. The magnetic field is oriented vertical relative to Earth's surface at the south magnetic pole. D. Earth's magnetic field has varying dips around the world that range from vertical to horizontal, depending on latitude. E. The magnetic field is oriented vertical relative to Earth's surface at the north magnetic pole.

A. The locations of Earth's magnetic poles have moved through time and have even reversed in polarity. B. The magnetic field is oriented horizontal (parallel) to Earth's surface at the magnetic equator. C. The magnetic field is oriented vertical relative to Earth's surface at the south magnetic pole. D. Earth's magnetic field has varying dips around the world that range from vertical to horizontal, depending on latitude. E. The magnetic field is oriented vertical relative to Earth's surface at the north magnetic pole.

Of the following statements about the age of the ocean crust, which one is true? Select only one answer. A. The oldest ocean crust is about 200 million years old and is located near an ocean trench. B. The oldest ocean crust is about 200 million years old and is located near the mid-ocean ridge. C. The oldest ocean crust is about 2 million years old and is located near an ocean trench. D. The oldest ocean crust is about 2 million years old and is located near the mid-ocean ridge. E. The oldest ocean crust is about 4.5 billion years old and is located near the edge of a continent.

A. The oldest ocean crust is about 200 million years old and is located near an ocean trench.

The flat top of a guyot or tablemount in deep water is evidence that __________. A. the seamount was once at the surface of the ocean, but is now submerged due to plate movement and erosion when it was near sea level. B. the seamount is an extinct volcano with the crater filled by a solidified lava lake C. burrowing organisms have destroyed the peak of the seamount D. the seamount is an erosional remnant of a flat abyssal plain E. the seamount has been submerged by rising sea level that resulted from global climate change

A. the seamount was once at the surface of the ocean, but is now submerged due to plate movement and erosion when it was near sea level.

Which of the following lines of evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support the concept of drifting continents? A. the way the shapes of the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle B. the composition of meteors from outer space C. evidence of glaciers in areas that are now tropical D. the distribution of species of fossils E. the pattern of similar mountain belts on different continents

A. the way the shapes of the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle C. evidence of glaciers in areas that are now tropical D. the distribution of species of fossils E. the pattern of similar mountain belts on different continent

Why does the sea floor have a striped pattern of magnetic anomalies that is symmetric with respect to the mid-ocean ridge? A.The polarity of Earth's magnetic field experiences reversals. B. The igneous rock of the ocean floor preserves Earth's existing magnetic field as the rock cools. C. The ocean floor is spreading apart, and new sea floor is forming. D. The reversals occur as existing ocean crust is remagnetized during reversals. E. Marine organisms that live on the sea floor have caused this pattern.

A.The polarity of Earth's magnetic field experiences reversals. B. The igneous rock of the ocean floor preserves Earth's existing magnetic field as the rock cools. C. The ocean floor is spreading apart, and new sea floor is forming.

Earthquakes can occur only in the __________. A. outer core B. lithosphere C. mesosphere D. crust E. asthenosphere

B. lithosphere

What type of plate boundary will result in the formation of a volcanic island chain or arc near a deep-sea trench? A. oceanic-oceanic divergent boundaries B. oceanic-oceanic convergent boundaries C. ocean-continental convergent boundaries D. continental-continental convergent boundaries E. continental-continental divergent boundaries

B. oceanic-oceanic convergent boundaries

A trench and a chain of volcanoes known generally as a volcanic arc are always present where there is __________. A. a transform plate boundary B. subduction C. a hot spot D. a divergent plate boundary E. a convergent plate boundary

B. subduction

The following set of observations describes an actual body of water. Evaluate these statements and determine the evolutionary stage of an ocean basin based upon the following characteristics: 1. Lacks a mid-ocean ridge 2. Deep ocean basin is present 3. Early signs of mountain formation 4. Volcanic island arc and trench absent A. juvenile B. terminal C. mature D. declining E. suturing

B. terminal

If ocean crust forms at a rate of 10 centimeters per year, how much ocean crust can be created in 20 million years? Select only one answer. A. 200 million kilometers B. 200,000 kilometers C. 2000 kilometers D. 20 kilometers E. none of the above

C. 2000 kilometers

Which hypothesis best explains the continuous bend in the Hawaiian Islands-Emperor Seamount chain? A. The mid-ocean ridge that forms this feature has a continuous bend in it. B. The location of the mantle plume that formed this feature drifted over time. C. The direction of plate motion shifted over time over a stationary mantle plume (hot spot). D. This feature results from two independent mantle plumes that merged to create the appearance of a bend. E. The trench associated with the formation of this feature has a continuous bend in it.

C. The direction of plate motion shifted over time over a stationary mantle plume (hot spot).

A researcher interested in the vertical zonation of oceanic lithosphere would want to study __________. A. mantle plumes B. nemataphs C. magnetic reversals D. ophiolites E. atolls

D. ophiolites

Based on paleogeographic records, _____________. A. the North Atlantic opened before North America was located at the equator B. India separated from Antarctica before North America was located at the equator C. the continents came together as Pangaea before North America was located at the equator D. the North Atlantic opened before India separated from Antarctica E. India separated from Antarctica before the continents came together as Pangaea

D. the North Atlantic opened before India separated from Antarctica

The cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA, are about 380 miles apart. Plate motion along the San Andreas Fault is about five centimeters per year. If the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants continue to play at their current locations, how long will it be before their games will constitute a cross-town rivalry? A. About 18,490,000 years B. About 10,110,000 years C. About 17,930,000 years D. About 15,650,000 years E. About 12,230,000 years

E. About 12,230,000 years

What piece of evidence supports Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift? A. Records of glacial masses in the tropics indicate a worldwide ice age. B. Calculations of tidal forces show that this mechanism is sufficient to cause landmasses to move. C. Coal deposits that form in tropical swamps are absent from continents near the poles. D. Rocks of varying ages found in mountain chains separated by the Atlantic Ocean indicate that they formed at different times in history. E. Modern-day species that evolved in isolation share a common ancestor.

E. Modern-day species that evolved in isolation share a common ancestor.

Of the following statements about ocean crust, which is/are true? A. Ocean crust is destroyed at transform faults. B. Ocean crust is created at transform faults. C. Ocean crust is destroyed at the mid-ocean ridge. D. Ocean crust is created at deep sea trenches. E. Ocean crust is created at the mid-ocean ridge. F. Ocean crust is destroyed at deep sea trenches.

E. Ocean crust is created at the mid-ocean ridge. F. Ocean crust is destroyed at deep sea trenches.

What do all plate boundaries have in common? Select only one answer. A. They are all associated with an abundance of volcanic activity. B. They occur only on the ocean floor. C. They occur entirely within the middle of continents. D. They are all located along the edges of continents. E. They are all associated with zones of earthquakes.

E. They are all associated with zones of earthquakes.

Evidence shows that periodic reversals of Earth's magnetic field have resulted in __________. A. apparent polar wandering B. seafloor spreading C. mass extinction of life-forms D. interruption of Earth's gravitational field E. a symmetrical pattern of normal and reverse magnetization in ocean crustal rocks

E. a symmetrical pattern of normal and reverse magnetization in ocean crustal rocks

Numerous small, shallow earthquakes tend to occur at __________. A. oceanic/oceanic convergent plate boundaries B. continental/continental convergent plate boundaries C. oceanic/continental convergent plate boundaries D. transform plate boundaries E. divergent plate boundaries

E. divergent plate boundaries

Of the following statements about sea floor magnetic anomalies, which is/are true? A. They are oriented perpendicular to all mountain ranges. B. They are oriented perpendicular to deep sea trenches. C. They are oriented parallel to nemataths. D. They are oriented parallel to all mountain ranges. E. They are oriented perpendicular to the mid-ocean ridge. F. They are oriented parallel to the mid-ocean ridge.

F. They are oriented parallel to the mid-ocean ridge.