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GEOL180 - Introduction to Oceanography Exam II
1. The salinity of ocean surface water is associated with latitude because
a. of the Earth’s rotation
b. latitudinal variations of evaporation and precipitation in the atmosphere
c. of differences in sunlight penetration at different latitudes
d. winds change with latitude and carry more or less salt into the ocean
2. A rapid change in temperature with depth is called a
a. pycnocline
b. thermocline
c. photic level
3. Which current flows north along the east coast of the U.S.?
a. North Pacific b. California
c. Gulf Stream
d. halocline
d. Kuroshio
4. Which process or combination of processes will cause the greatest increase in surface seawater density?
a. sea ice formation
b. sea ice melting
c. surface water evaporation
d. sea ice formation AND surface water evaporation
5. Seawater transmits the visible portion of the electromagnetic radiation that comes from the sun but
a. most of it is absorbed in the first top centimeter of the ocean
b. none of it penetrates beyond the first 80 meters
c. only visible short wave (blue) goes through and only up to a depth of 10 cm
d. 60% of the is absorbed in first 1 m depth of the ocean
6. Geostrophic flow occurs when the Coriolis deflection is balanced by an opposite pressure gradient force.
a. True
b. False
7. A pair of air circulation cells which exist adjacent to and on each side of the equator are known as _______.
a. Ferrel cells
b. Hadley cells c. Polar cells
d. Mid latitude cells
8. Extratropical and tropical storm systems are both ____ pressure systems.
a) low
b) high
9. Which property of water causes coastal communities to have only moderate differences in daily (monthly,
seasonally) highs and lows when compared to inlands communities?
a. low viscosity
b. high viscosity
c. low heat capacity
d. high heat capacity
10. As a you descend into the ocean to measure physical properties, your instruments generally will indicate
a. a decrease in both water temperature and water pressure.
b. an increase in both water temperature and water pressure.
c. an increase in water temperature and a decrease in water pressure.
d. a decrease in water temperature and an increase in water pressure.
11. Which storm system forms along the boundary of two air masses?
a. Tropical
b. Extra-Tropical
12. Sodium (Na) and Cloride (Cl) ions account for approximately 86% of all dissolved salts in seawater (T/F)
a. True
b. False
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13. Area of the ocean where surface salinity is high are indicative of
a. coastal regions where rivers discharge into the ocean
b. nervous oceanographers messing up instruments and worrying about global warming
c. atmospheric areas of large precipitation
d. high evaporation rates
14. Which of the following is true for an eastern boundary current?
a. narrow and deep
b. deep and swift c. broad and slow
d. broad and deep
15. The oceans are a major contributor of carbon dioxide to the Earth’s atmosphere
a. True
b. False
16. The concentration of carbon dioxide in surface water is low, whereas the concentration of oxygen is high because
of the
a. difference in solubility of the gases.
b. exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the ocean.
c. photosynthesis process.
d. respiration of plants and animals.
17. Surface ocean circulation is driven primarily by __________ and modified by __________.
a. density differences; the Coriolis effect and land
b. wind; the Coriolis effect and land
c. density differences; differences in salinity and temperature.
d. wind; gravity and density.
18. The eastern and western boundary currents result from geostrophic flow around the gyres.
a. True
b. False
19. The average ph of the ocean, which is 7.8 remains relatively constant due to the buffering action of CO 2. (T/F)
a. True
b. False
20. The Coriolis effect arises primarily from the
a. curvature of the Earth's surface
c. rotation of the Earth around the sun
b. rotation of the Earth around its axis
d. effect of winds high in the atmosphere
21. Winds will flow _________ around a high pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere.
a. clockwise
b. counterclockwise
22. In the southern hemisphere surface current will move ____ degrees to the ____ of the wind direction.
a. 70-90; right
b. 30-45; right
c. 70-90; left
d. 30-45; left
23. The gyres are the oceanic equivalent of high pressure systems in the atmosphere, similarly the currents flow
counterclockwise around the gyres in the southern hemisphere.
a. True
b. False
24. The net movement of water (transport) when integrated (added up) through the Ekman layer is
a. 45 degrees to the right of the wind in the northern hemisphere
b. 45 degrees to the left of the wind in the northern hemisphere
c. 90 degrees to the right of the wind in the northern hemisphere
d. 90 degrees to the left of the wind in the northern hemisphere
25. Most of the excess heat gained in the low latitudes is redistributed to higher latitudes through convection.
a. True
b. False
26. The North Atlantic current is driven by
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a. North East trade winds and geostrophy (yes it is a word).
b. South East trade winds and geostrophy (still a word).
c. Northern hemisphere westerlies and geostrophy (a very good word).
d. Southern hemisphere westerlies and geostrophy (to impress your friends).
27. The polar structure of the water molecule (H2O) permits weak magnetic bonds to be formed between individual
water molecules when in the liquid state. These weak magnetic bonds are referred to as hydrogen bonds.
a. True
b. False
28. The energy (calories) required to convert one gram of liquid water to water vapor is
a. the same as that needed to convert ice to liquid water
b. much larger than that needed to convert ice to liquid water
c. much less than that needed to convert ice to liquid water
d. the same as that needed to convert liquid water to ice
29. Convergence of water in the center of the North Atlantic gyre results in sinking of water and a depression of the
thermocline. This process is called _______ which makes the Sargasso Sea one of the most productive regions in the
ocean (T/F).
a. downwelling; true
b. downwelling; false c. upwelling; true d. upwelling; false
30. Most of the United States is located in which global wind zone?
a. northeast trade winds
b. southeast trade winds
c. polar easterlies
d. westerlies
31. Seasonal melting and freezing at high latitudes (such as Arctic sea ice formation) will influence sea water _____.
a. temperature
b. salinity
c. density
d. both a and c
e. both b and c
32. The concentrations of dissolved gasses increase with depth because
a. warmer water can hold more gas
b. water under higher pressure can hold more gas
c. colder water can hold more gas
d. both a and b are correct
e. both b and c are correct
33. Western intensification, is a result of the increase in the Coriolis force with latitude.
a. True
b. False
34. Permanent melting of alpine glaciers and ice sheets will influence the earth’s ________.
a. sea level
b. albedo
c. greenhouse effect
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
35.
The meteorological equator is also referred to as.
a. The doldrums
b. The Antarctic Convergence Zone
c. The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone
d. The Horse Latitude
36. Whereas the Earth’s surface is heated from above (Sun’s heat energy) the atmosphere is heated from below.
a. True
b. False
37. An east wind blowing along the south shore of Long Island for longer than 18 hours will (think Nor’easter):
a. lower water levels along the coast and produce upwelling somewhere out on the continental shelf
b. raise water levels along the coast and result in downwelling of warmer surface water
38. A west wind blowing along the south shore of Long Island for longer than 18 hours will:
c. lower water levels along the coast and produce upwelling somewhere out on the continental shelf
d. raise water levels along the coast and result in downwelling of warmer surface water
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39. The two changes of state that are the most important part of the water cycle for the atmosphere are
a. melting, freezing
b. melting, sublimation
c. evaporation, condensation
d. condensation, freezing
e. condensation, melting
40. The pycnocline of the oceans is usually found at depths exceeding 2000 m.
a. True
b. False
41. A typical temperature profile through the water column at low latitudes (tropical) is represented by
a. A
b. B
c. C
42. A typical temperature profile through the water column at mid latitudes is represented by
a. A
b. B
c. C
43. A typical temperature profile through the water column at high latitudes is represented by
a. A
b. B
c. C
44. There are numerous combinations of salinity and temperature that produce the same density of sea water (T/F).
a. True
b. False
45. The surface mixed layer in temperate latitudes is deepest during
a. winter
b. spring
c. summer
d. fall
46. Stratification (density, temperature, salinity) in the water column will tend to suppress vertical mixing.
a. True
b. False
47. Thermal stratification is reduced or weakest at _________
a. low latitudes
b. mid latitudes
c. high latitudes
48. Ocean and atmospheric circulation redistributes the heat around the planet, however more heat is transported in
the oceans than in the atmosphere.
a. True
b. False
49. It is believed the ocean absorbs approximately _____ percent of anthropogenic CO 2 each year.
a. 10
b. 20
c. 30
d. 50
e. 100
50. The movement of the CO2 from the surface layer to the middle and deep layers of the ocean occurs through
cooling and sinking of water at high latitudes and biological activity in the surface waters.
a. True
b. False
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