Term
| An indirect method of measuring ocean current is the use of __________. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| A large system of rotating ocean currents, usually driven by the major wind belts, is called a(n) |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The current in the northwestern part of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre that transports warm water toward the North Atlantic is called the |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The loss of heat from the ocean surface, resulting in a lowered temperature, causes ocean water to become |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| A deep and powerful southward subsurface current that flows under the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic is the |
|
Definition
| North Atlantic Deep Water |
|
|
Term
| Thermohaline circulation in the ocean is driven primarily by differences in __________ and __________ among water masses. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| To produce a surface current of 1.6 knots in the open ocean, a steady wind of _____ knots would be required. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The actual movement of surface water due to Ekman transport in the Northern Hemisphere is about __________. |
|
Definition
| 45 degrees to the right of the wind direction |
|
|
Term
| Of the following statements about subtropical gyres, which is/are true? |
|
Definition
The western boundary current of all subtropical gyres is intensified (it is fast, narrow, and deep).
Globally, there are five subtropical gyres.
There are four main surface currents in each subtropical gyre
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. |
|
|
Term
| Of the following gyres, which one(s) flow in a counterclockwise direction? |
|
Definition
| Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre, Northern Hemisphere Subpolar Gyres, South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, South Pacific Subtropical Gyre |
|
|
Term
| Of the following surface currents, which one(s) flow from south to north? |
|
Definition
Peru Current
Kuroshio Current
the Gulf Stream |
|
|
Term
| Of the following surface currents, which one(s) flow generally from west to east? |
|
Definition
West Wind Drift, Equatorial Counter Current,
North Pacific Current |
|
|
Term
| The West Wind Drift (Antarctic Circumpolar Current) is a part of which of the following subtropical gyres? |
|
Definition
South Pacific Subtropical Gyre
Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre
South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre |
|
|
Term
| Of the following statements about Ekman spiral and Ekman transport, which is/are true? |
|
Definition
-within the ekman spiral, deeper water can move in a direction exactly opposite of the wind direction
-The two factors that affect the ekman spiral are the wind direction and the Coriolis effect
-because of the coriolis effect, surface waters move at an angle to the wind direction
-connecting the arrows of water movement from the surface into deeper waters shows the spiral pattern
-ekman transport is to the right of the wind direction in the northern hemisphere |
|
|
Term
| Of the following currents, which ones are parts of the South Atlantic Subtropical Gyre? |
|
Definition
Benguela Current
West Wind Drift
South Equatorial Current
Brazil Current |
|
|
Term
| Downwelling can result from |
|
Definition
| converging surface currents |
|
|
Term
| Of the following locations, where would upwelling be expected to occur? |
|
Definition
-where there is a sharp bend in a coastline
-where there is a shallowly submerged sea floor obstruction, such as a tablemount
-in areas of diverging surface currents,such as along the equator
-in areas of offshore winds |
|
|
Term
| The thermocline is _________________. |
|
Definition
| a steep temperature gradient in the ocean that separates deeper cold water from warmer upper water |
|
|
Term
| What is the Walker Circulation Cell? |
|
Definition
| 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. |
|
|
Term
| Why does upwelling occur along the west coast of South America under normal conditions? |
|
Definition
| Winds moving westward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the west; deep water rises to replace water driven westward. |
|
|
Term
| 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? |
|
Definition
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 dry 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 warm weather. The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually dry weather. |
|
|
Term
| Which direction do ocean currents in the South Pacific move under El Niño conditions? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the Southern Oscillation? |
|
Definition
| What is the Southern Oscillation? |
|
|
Term
| Under which conditions are droughts and wildfires common in Australia? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is the overall effect of the stronger than normal trade winds typical of La Niña conditions? |
|
Definition
| lowering of the South Pacific ocean temperature from normal conditions |
|
|
Term
| One of the world’s most powerful currents, located off the east coast of the United States, is the |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The Gulf Stream transports warm water into the |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Fluctuations in the flow of the Gulf Stream current result in curving loops of water known as |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Ocean frontal systems that spin off from currents such as the Gulf Stream, akin to atmospheric storms, are known as |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| When a meander from the Gulf Stream pinches off into the warm water south of the current, the eddy is called a |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| The largest of the great ocean surface currents is the |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Warm core rings and cold core rings are associated with |
|
Definition
| western boundary currents |
|
|
Term
| Indian Ocean currents that are generated by seasonal changes in weather patterns are the __________ and __________ Currents. |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| During a strong El Nino event, the news media might be expected to cover |
|
Definition
| a tropical cyclone in Hawaii or Tahiti |
|
|
Term
| Of the following conditions, which is/are related to strong El Niño events? |
|
Definition
-increase in sea surface temp. and destruction of coral reefs in the eastern pacific ocean
-higher sea levels in the eastern pacific ocean associated with warmer water
-increased abundance of hurricanes in the eastern pacific ocean |
|
|
Term
| Deep ocean current movement is also known as |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Records indicate that the ocean is warming faster in the Arctic polar regions than elsewhere. If that continues, a possible consequence could be |
|
Definition
| slowing of deep ocean circulation, resulting in lower oxygen levels in deep water |
|
|
Term
| Of the following statements about deep-ocean currents, which is/are true? |
|
Definition
-Deep-ocean currents contain water that is high in oxygen.
-Deep-ocean circulation is often referred to as thermohaline flow.
-The volume of water involved in the downward movement of deep-ocean currents is equal to the flow of 100 Amazon-sized rivers.
-Deep-ocean currents are important regulators of global climate.
-Deep-ocean currents are initiated by downwelling of cold, dense water near Antarctica and in the North Atlantic Ocean. (deep ocean currents often travel faster than surface currents) |
|
|
Term
| The coastlines with the greatest tsunami hazard are most commonly associated with what type of plate boundary? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Which of the following statements about earthquakes and tsunami hazards is most accurate? |
|
Definition
| A relatively high number of earthquakes and the greatest tsunami hazard occur along the western coast of South America. |
|
|
Term
| Which of the following statements is most accurate about tsunami hazards and the number of people at risk? |
|
Definition
| A low tsunami hazard and a high number of people at risk are present along the coast of the eastern United States. |
|
|
Term
| Which body of water is shown to have the greatest amount of coastal pollution? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Surface ocean currents ___. |
|
Definition
form large rotating gyres in the major ocean basins
are driven by winds
are influenced by Coriolis effect |
|
|
Term
| Equatorial currents that are part of the subtropical gyres flow ___. Equatorial counter currents between the gyres flow ___ . |
|
Definition
| east-to-west; west-to-east |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| are warming than the surrounding water |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| generally flow from high latitudes towards the equator |
|
|
Term
| The subtropical gyres ___. |
|
Definition
| play a large role in climate |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
