Term
| What best explains why the atmosphere transports heat toward the poles? |
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Definition
| the latitudinal imbalance of incoming solar radiation |
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Term
| The Coriolis parameter is at largest _______ and zero at the _____. |
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Definition
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Term
| The prevailing winds on each side of the equator are: |
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Definition
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Term
| Geostrophy is the balance between what 2 forces? |
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Definition
| Pressure gradient and Coriolis |
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Term
| What hemisphere does ONLY cyclonic flow rotate counter-clockwise? |
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Definition
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Term
| Neutrally buoyant (sub-surface) ocean current floats are best tracked using: |
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Definition
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Term
| In the Northern Hemisphere, the NET motion of water in an Ekman spiral is ______ the wind direction. |
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Definition
| 90 degrees to the right of. |
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Term
| What factor best explains why the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is so unique? |
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Definition
| its east-west path is uninterrupted by continents |
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Term
| Waters diverge to form subpolar gyres because of which two prevailing wind systems? |
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Definition
| Westerlies and Polar Easterlies. |
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Term
| Subtropical gyres in the Southern Hemisphere flow: |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the underlying cause of the westward intensification of subtropical gyres? |
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Definition
| Weak Coriolis parameter near the equator |
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Term
| Subtropical gyre western boundary currents are: |
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Definition
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Term
| In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes fluids to be deflected to the ____ of their natural path, and geostrophic balance would cause ocean currents to flow ____around seas surface lows. |
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Definition
| right ...... counter-clockwise. |
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Term
| What scenario would most likely produce coastal upwelling? |
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Definition
| southerly winds along the South American west coast |
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Term
| Coastal upwelling water tend to be: |
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Definition
|
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Term
| Why is there a cold tongue in the easter tropical pacific? |
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Definition
| upwelling due to Ekman divergence |
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Term
| What condition does not characterize El Nino? |
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Definition
| high rainfall in Indonesia |
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Term
| El Nino events occur approximately every ___ years. |
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Definition
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Term
| In the Walker Circulation, what force balances the pressure gradient force? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which factors form a positive feedback loop in the equatorial Pacific? |
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Definition
| warm pool - atmospheric low - strong winds |
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Term
| Once Surface waters become dense enough to form deep waters, what is the most likely reason that their temperature would change significantly in the deep sea? |
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Definition
| by mixing with other water masses |
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Term
| How does sea surface salinity near the equator compare to that of the subtropical gyres? |
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Definition
| lower near equator due to higher precipitation |
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Term
| The most common reason for the existence of the pynocline is that _____ decreases with increasing depth. |
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Definition
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Term
| The mixed layer will typically extends to a depth of about: |
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Definition
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Term
| What sources of energy directly drive the upwelling that leads to the thermohaline circulation? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which is NOT a mechanism leading to denser surface water and therefore deep water formation? |
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Definition
| increased runoff from melting ice sheets |
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Term
| Wave orbits are negligible at depths below: |
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Definition
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Term
| The only wave type restored by cohesion is: |
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Definition
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Term
| A wave that propagates away from a disturbance without without continued application of force is called: |
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Definition
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Term
| Which wave type is almost always considered a shallow water wave? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which is NOT a characteristic of shallow water waves? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which factor does NOT contribute to large wave growth? |
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Definition
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Term
| Deep water wave celerity depends on the variable _____, while shallow water wave celerity depends on the variable ____. |
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Definition
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Term
| A wind wave is approaching shore first contacts the seafloor at a water depth of: |
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Definition
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Term
| Waves usually break when their height exceeds: |
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Definition
|
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Term
| Why do waves bend (refract) as they approach shore? |
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Definition
| speed is decreased in shallow water |
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Term
| A tsunami is usually imperceptible to a ship at sea because it has a: |
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Definition
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Term
| The Sumatra tsunami of December 2004 was caused by a: |
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Definition
| subduction zone earth quake |
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Term
| Why does an unusual sea level drop often precede the arrival a tsunami? |
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Definition
| the trough of the tsunami wave sometimes arrives before the crest |
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Term
| What technology does the pacific tsunami warning network rely on? |
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Definition
| pressure sensors on the seafloor |
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Term
| THe equilibrium theory of the tides would apply for a hypothetical Earth: |
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Definition
| completely covered by a very deep ocean. |
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Term
| The gravitational attraction between two celestial objects increases with their ____, and decreases with the square of their____. |
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Definition
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Term
| In Earth-moon system, where are gravitational attraction and intertia in balance? |
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Definition
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Term
| On earth, solar tides are about ____ the strength of lunar tides. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| The side of Earth facing the moon will have a high tide while th opposite side of the Earth will have: |
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Definition
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