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World Ocean Exam2
World Ocean Exam 2
Question | Answer |
---|---|
The average salinity of ocean water is? | 3.5% or 35 o/oo |
Which processes decrease surface ocean salinity? | sea ice melting and precipitation |
Which processes increase surface ocean salinity? | sea ice forming and evaporation |
The layer of rapidly changing water temperature is the? | thermocline |
Ocean water has an average pH of 8.1 which means it is slightly acidic. True or false? | False |
In the tropics, there is virtually no change in temperature or density with water depth. True or False? | False |
An increase in salinity will decrease density of surface ocean water. True or False? | False |
What is seawater's surface salinity from highest to lowest by location? | Tropics -> equator -> high latitudes |
In an isothermical and isopycnal water column, surace and deep waters can mix. True or False? | True |
Halite or sodium chloride is the most common salt in seawater. True or False? | True |
The majority of hurricane fatalities are the result of? | the storm surge |
The Tropic of Capricorn is located at? | 23.5 degrees SOUTH latitude |
Low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate? | counterclockwise |
The low latitude wind belt with strong, reliable, generally easterly (from the east) wind are the....? | Trade Winds |
Within which wind belt are we located here in Pennsylvania? | Prevailing Westerlies |
Where would you expect to find warm and dry conditions and the world's major deserts? | Horse Latitudes |
A land breeze blows? | from land to sea starting at night |
Icebergs are a form of sea ice. True or False? | False |
Current sea level rise worldwide can be attributed to all of the following EXCEPT..? | Geological uplifting of the ocean basins |
Satellite data show that the rate of sea level rise since 1993 is on average about...? | 0.1 inch/year |
The Sargasso Sea is located in the...? | North Atlantic Ocean |
During winter months, monsoon winds over the Indian Ocean..? | Flow from land to sea and are dry |
The El Nino weather pattern is associated with? | drought and fires in Australia |
Thermohaline circulation is driven by? | density |
The Mediterranean Sea has little influence on the water of the Atlantic Ocean. True or False? | False |
Deep water masses have characteristic temperatures and salinities. True or False? | True |
The most dense ocean water mass is the? | Antarctic Bottom Water |
Which water mass originates in the far North Atlantic (like near Greenland)? | North Atlantic Deep Water |
Scientists have concluded that the deep Pacific Ocean water is old due to is low? | Oxygen levels |
The La Nina weather pattern is associated with? | Intensified trade winds blowing from east to west |
Within the water molecule, oxygen and hydrogen atoms are joined by? | covalet bonds |
The attraction between the "+" H side and the "-" O side of adjacent water molecules is? | hydrogen bonds |
Water is relatively slow to change temperature (compared to land for example) because of its...? | High Heat Capacity |
Which is greater, latent heat of melting or latent heat of vaporization? | Latent heat of Vaporization |
The most abundant ion in ocean water is..? | Chloride |
Chesapeake Bay water with a salinity of 20o/oo is...? | Brackish |
Which of these processes increases seawater salinity? | evaporation |
As the ocean absorbs more CO2 from the atmosphere...? | pH decreases |
The highest surface ocean salinities are found...? | in the Tropics |
If the temperature of seawater increases from 5 degrees C to 15 degrees C, its density will...? | decrease |
The highest density seawater in the open ocean is in the..? | Deep Water |
The water column in polar waters is isothermal and isopycnal. True or False? | True |
A zone of rapidly changing salinity with depth is called..? | a Halocline |
What is the ULTIMATE driver of surface ocean circulation? | Solar Radiation |
Snow and Ice has a greater albedo than Vegetation and Land. True or False? | True |
Where is the sun directly overhead at some point during the year? | Between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn |
A ball thrown from Mexico City toward chicago will land...... | too far east |
Without correction, a jet flying from the North Pole to Dallas will end up.. | Too far west |
Warm air rising is associated with.. | Low pressure and Rain |
An easterly wind blows from the west toward the east. True or False? | False |
Hadley cells are found? | between the 0 and 30 |
The Polar front is found? | around 60 degrees |
Horse latitudes are a zone of? | High pressure and Clear skies |
Higher rates of snowfall over the Greenland Ice Sheet may be the result of warmer air that holds more moisture. True or False? | True |
Primary productivity in high latitudes does not begin until ice has melted to expose open water. True or False? | False |
Hardiness zones in North America are shifting...? | Northward |
Which greenhouse gas is the most abundant one released by human activity? | Carbon Dioxide |
Signs of global change close to home include? | Changing temperatures and precipitation patterns |
The keeling curve shows steadily decreasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. True or False? | False |
A hurricane is a massive low pressure system. True or False? | True |
In the northern hemisphere, hurricanes rotate...? | Counterclockwise |
A sea breeze will blow...? | During the day |
Our weather here at 40 degrees North is most strongly influenced by which winds? | Prevailing Westerlies |
The Keeling Curve shows increasing levels of..? | CO2 in the atmosphere |
Hurricanes intensify over land. True or False? | False |
H2O is a polar molecule, what does that mean? | It is attracted to each other. There is an unusual bend in its geometry (because of both H's being on the same side) |
What are some of water's unusual properties? | High cohesion,Surface tension, THERMAL properties-high boiling pt.high freezing pt. Most of it is in liquid form. High solubility of chemical compounds (universal solvent) High latent (hidden) heats of: vaporization/condensation, Melting/Freezing, evapor. |
How dowater's unusual properties impact us? | Water has high heat capacity so it can absorb/release large quantities of heat without changing temp. MARINE EFFECT-oceans moderate daily and seasonal temp changes. CONTINENTAL EFFECT-land areas have greater range of daily & seasonal temps |
KNOW THE CLINES (Halocline, Thermocline, pycnocline) | HALOCLINE-layer of rapidly changing salinity with depth. THERMOCLINE-layer of rapidly changing temperature with depth. PYCNOCLINE-layer of rapidly changing density with depth |
Why does the Earth experience seasons? | Because of uneven solar heating. The tilt of the Earth axis (towards/away from the sun) |
What is the Coriolis Effect? | It is the result of the Earth's rotation to the east. Different latitudes travel at different speeds. Velocity- equator-1000mph(minimum effect) poles-0mph(max effect). North hemisphere- curve to the right. South hemisphere to the left |
GLOBAL WIND BELT MODEL | (look over map) HIGH PRESSURE ZONES-Subtropical highs, polar highs> clear & dry. LOW PRESSURE ZONES-Equatorial low, Subpolar zones> overcast with precipitation. CELLS= Hadley-0-30 Ferrel-30-60 Polar-60-90 (winds named for where they originate) |
How do icebergs & sea ice differ? | Sea ice is masses of frozen seawater while icebergs are pieces of glaciers which are land ice. |
Why be concerned about loss of Arctic ice? | Higher Sea Levels, Disrupting life of polar bears, productivity happens with in sea ice, aka food chain is already dying |
What are some predicted signs of global change? Which do we see now? (*) | *melting/enlargement of icecaps/glaciers. *rising sealevels. *severe storms. higher than normal sea temps. *severe droughts/increase precip. water contamination-outbreaks of water-bourne illness.*longer/more intense heatwaves. shifted distribution of life |
How do eastern and western boundary currents compare? | EASTERN- pole to equator, wide, slow, shallow. WESTERN- equator to pole, narrow, fast, deep. |
Why does the Indian subcontinent experience monsoons? | because of heat capacity differences between land and water depending on the season |
What causes ocean waves | wind, tectonic activity, currents meeting, landslides, ships |
How do deep and shallow water waves differ? | DEEP- depth is greater than base. SHALLOW- celerity=depth less than 1/20 of wavelength, more interaction with the land |
Differentiate between constructive and deconstructive interference | CONSTRUCTIVE- increase wave height. DECONSTRUCTIVE- decreases wave height. **mixed variable pattern= most common |
What is a rogue wave? | a very huge wave. common in Southern Ocean because of prevailing westerlies ....2x as big as the 1/3 highest group of waves (or something like that) |
How does a wave change as it shoals (wave touches bottom)? | wave speed decreases, wavelength decreases, wave height increases, wave steepness increases |
Signs of tsunami and what to do. | odd wave patterns coming into port, a sudden low tide. Run the opposing direction and head for high ground. |
In the southern hemisphere, Ekman transport pushes surface water..? | To the left of the wind. |
The South Pacific subtropical gyre rotates..? | counterclockwise |
During summer months, air over the Asian mainland? | warms and rises creating LP |
During summer months, Indian Basin monsoon winds? | flow sea to land, are wet |
The eastern South Pacific normally experiences? | High P and dry weather |
The western South Pacific normally experiences? | low P and wet weather |
Weakening of trade winds, cessation of upwelling off Peru, and rain in western South America signal? | El Nino conditions |
Intensified trade winds, strong upwelling off Peru, cool water temps across the Equatorial Pacific signal? | La Nina conditions |
As a wave begins to feel bottom near a shoreline, all of the following are noted EXCEPT? | wavelength increases |
If you experience an earthquake that knocks you to the ground while you are on the beach, you should? | run for high ground as fast as you can |
Vertical displacement along underwater faults during an earthquake changes the volume of the ocean basin. True or False? | True |
A tsunami is everywhere a? | shallow-water wave |
Waves converge on headlands due to? | wave refraction |
What is the typical order of formation of waves from earliest to latest? | sea, swell, surf |
A tsunami may result from? | tectonic activity on the seafloor |
The largest wind-generated waves tend to be associated with? | prevailing westerlies |
The area of breaking waves along a shoreline is called the? | surf zone |
Which breaker indicates a gently sloping seafloor and provides surfers with a long ride? | spilling breakers |
The longest period wave type is a? | tide |
A wave has a wavelength of 100 feet. At which heights will the wave not yet break? 2ft 5 ft 10ft | All of them |
Most commonly, the disturbing force creating ocean waves is? | wind |
The speed or celerity of a deep water wave is proportional to? | wavelength |
The speed or celerity of a shallow water wave is proportional to? | water depth |
What will have the result of an increase in wave height? | constructive interference |
As a wave shoals (moves into shallow water), the wavelength? | decreases |
As a wave shoals, the celerity (wave speed)? | decreases |
As a wave shoals, the wave height? | increases |
As a wave shoals, the wave steepness? | increases |
You have young children and want a beach that slopes slowly from shallow to deep water. you look for which type of breaker? | spilling breaker |
Sediment from headland erosion fills embayments This works to straighten an irregular shoreline. True or False? | True |
A Tsunami most often results from? | Seafloor tectonic activity |
With its long wavelength, a tsunami is everywhere..? | a shallow-water wave |
Most tsunamis occur in the? | Pacific Ocean |