Quiz chapter 9

Ocean deep zone is:

1. The water in this zone does not freeze because of the intense pressure exerted by the weight of overlying water ( high pressure) 2. The water in this zone does not freeze because of its salinity (high salinity)

Ocean's Physical structure

1. mixing zone (2%) 2. thermocline transition zone (18%) 3. deep cold zone (80%)

world wide average salinity is

3.5% or 35 parts per thousand

The tidal height due to the Sun is about 50% of the tidal height due to the moon. Why?

Because the distance from Earth to the Sun is much greater than the distance from Earth to the Moon

True or False? seawater is not a solution.

False

The largest ocean in the world is the ___________ ocean and the smallest ocean in the world is the ____________ ocean.

Pacific, Arctic

5 Oceans

Pacific>Atlantic>Indian>Southern>Artic

The concentration of dissolved solids in the seawater is called

Salinity

The Moon's gravitational pull on the Earth is greater than that of the Sun's (True or False)

True

Tropical cyclones originate entirely withing tropical air masses (True/ False)

True

mass wasting hazard are less likely to occur along trailing edge (passive) shoreline than along leading edge(tectonically active) since the slopes are typically much more gentle (True or False)

True

What is meant by wave base?

Water depth affected by a wave

Which of the following is note true of tides? a. they are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the sun b. they are complex daily oscillation in sea level c. they are influenced by the size, depth, and topography of the ocean basins. d. they are influenced by shoreline configuration and latitude.

a. they are produced solely by the gravitational pull of the sun

What best describes why irregular shorelines evolve and become straighter over time? a. waves erode headland and deposits sediment in coves and bays b. continuous sea level rise c. plate tectonics causes uplift of the land, producing a more uniform coastline d. waves smooth out differences in the width of the beach

a. waves erode headland and deposits sediment in coves and bays

What is the problem with the use of the beach groins?

Down-drift areas will experience beach starvation

Salinity is <3.5%, the seawater is:

brackish

Salinity > 3.5%, the seawater is:

brine

which of the following is incorrectly matched? a.) rising tides-flood tides b.) ebb tides-falling tides c.) spring tides-high tides only d.) spring tides-maximum tidal range

spring tides-high tides only

which of the following best describes leading edge shorelines? a.) gentle slopes, straight coastline, broad beaches b.) steep slopes, irregular coastline, restricted beaches c.) gentle slopes, irregular coastline, broad beaches d.) steep slopes, straight coastline, restricted beaches

steep slopes, irregular coastline, restricted beaches

tidal range is

the difference between consecutive high and low tides

About 2% of the oceanic mass comprise the a.) the mixing zone of blended solutes and temperatures b.) deep cold zone that is near freezing c.) thermocline transition zone d.) bottom most layers of each ocean basin that surprisingly warmer than surface layers

the mixing zone of blended solutes and temperatures

what is wave base a measure of? a.) wave length b.) wave hight c.) wave energy d.) wave speed

wave energy

Which of the following explains why longshore currents develop along shorelines?

wave refraction

What best explains how surf forms along a shoreline?

waves beginning to drag on the seafloor and slowing down

When do neap tides occur?

whenever the Earth-Moon line makes a 90° angle to the Earth-Sun line (quarter moons)

what was meant by the term surf zone? a.) zone above high-tide level b.) zone between high and low tide c.) zone of breaking waves d.) zone affected by tides

zone of breaking waves

Seven elements on dissolved solids of seawater

Cl, Na, Mg, S, Ca, K, Br

Ocean tides are described as:

Earth's spinning motion and gravitational effect of the Moon and Sun.

As the evaporation rate increases, salinity decreases.

False

Hurricanes and strong winds can produce tsunamis (True or False)

False

Why are longshore currents important in environmental geology? a.) pose a hazard to boats and swimmers b.) cause the beach itself to migrate over time c.) transport heat energy from the tropics to the polar regions d.) transport nutrients that are important to fisheries

cause the beach itself to migrate over time

From inland to the ocean, what is the littoral zone sequence?

coast, beach shore (backshore, foreshore), nearshore

Breakwaters are commonly used in coastal engineering. What is the basic purpose of installing a breakwater?

create a quit area to moor boats and reduce erosion

Hurricanes are a coastal hazards for all the following reasons reasons except: a. strong dangerous winds b. heavy rainfall and flooding c. storm surge increases flooding and wave erosion d. excessive beach development

d. excessive beach development

Brackish water would be likely to occur

in a deltaic swap

Currents out in the open ocean are primarily driven by which of the following? a. prevailing winds and tides b. tides and density differences of the water c. shape of the shoreline and prevailing winds d. prevailing winds and density differences of the water

d. prevailing winds and density differences of the water

which of the following are key characteristics of ocean waves? a.) energy travels horizontally and water molecules move in a circular manner b.) energy travels in a circular manner and water molecules travels horizontally c.) waves only involve the transmission of energy d.) both water molecules and energy travel horizontally

energy travels horizontally and water molecules move in a circular manner

Which part of a hurricane consists of dry, descending air? a.) eye b.) spiral bands c.) eye wall d.) there are no dry conditions in a hurricane

eye

true or false? although many elements are dissolved in seawater; no gases are dissolved in it.

false

true or false? brine water tends to occur near coastal deltas.

false

true or false? should you ever find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip current, it tis important to immediately try to swim back to shore.

false (swim sideways)

The size of the contact area between the wind and water is called: a. anemometer b. front c. fetch d. storm surge

fetch

which of the following best describes trialling edge shoreline a.) gentle slopes, straight coastline, broad beaches b.) steep slopes, irregular coastline, restricted beaches c.) gentle slopes, irregular coastline, broad beaches d.) steep slopes, straight coastline, restricted beaches

gentle slopes, straight coastline, broad beaches

spring tides are

greatest (maximum) tidal range

Brine water results from

high evaporation rates

Hurricanes cause a regional rise in sea level (dome of water) that can result in a very dangerous phenomenon known as storm surge. What best explains the cause for this rise in sea level? a.) shallow water near the shoreline b.) high winds and lower air pressure within the storm c.) heavy rains within the storm d.) convergence of high winds and longshore currents

high winds and lower air pressure within the storm

Tropical cyclones are called _________ in North America, __________ in China, and ____________ in Australia.

hurricanes typhones cyclones

beach nourishment is a common technique for minimizing shoreline retreat. which of the following is a negative consequence of beach nourishment. a.) unwanted deposition on the down-side b.) unwanted deposition on the up-drift side c.) is costly and must be done periodically d.) loss of beach at high tide

is coastly and must be done periodically

tidal ranges depends on

latitude, water depth, and shape of shoreline

neap tides have a

lesser tidal range

a general term for the coastal environment is a.) shoreline b.) coast c.) coastline d.) littoral zone

littoral zone

Seawalls are commonly used to stop shoreline retreat. Which of the following is a negative consequence of building a seawall? a.) loss of the beach at high tide b.) are costly and must be periodically rebuilt c.) creates a beach composed of very coarse particles d.) unwanted deposition on the down-drift side

loss of the beach at high tide

which of the following occurs when the sun, moon, and earth are in alignment? (in opposition or conjunction) a.) maximum tidal ranges occur b.) neap tides occur c.) a lower tidal range occurs d.) none of the above are true

maximum tidal ranges occur

When do spring tides occur?

new and full moon

list two types of wave breakers: _______________ breakers occur at steep beaches and tend to be highly erosive at the shoreline, and _____________ breakers occur at gentle slope beaches and are more gentle and may facilitate the deposition of sand on beaches.

plunging, spilling