Spring Semester Oceanography Study Guide
The Final:
The spring semester final will encompass all of the learning that took place from Unit 7-Circulation of the
Atmosphere and Ocean, Unit 8-Waves, Unit 9-Tides, Unit 10-Coasts, and Unit 11-Marine Resources.
There will be approximately 37 multiple-choice questions. Eight of those questions will be based graphics and
diagrams from the aforementioned units (those graphics will be in your test). There will be three questions
from the drawing section. These questions will ask you to make your own drawing or graph based on what you
have learned. There will also be 10 fill in the blank questions. Finally, you will be asked to answer two or three
short answer questions. On these questions you will be asked to write in complete sentences, use vocabulary
words appropriately, and include a graphic to accompany your written answers.
Study resources
The class website: www.csun.edu/~aes15831
The class newsgroup: www.nicenet.org
Your notebook
o Notes
o In class assignments
o Quizzes
Your binder
o Reading packets
o Labs
o Tests
Your classmates
Your teacher
Vocabulary:
Seasons, rotation, tilt, revolution, global warming, hurricane, sea level rise, atmosphere, atmospheric
composition, climate, troposphere, temperature, pressure, currents, density, wind, poles, tropics, equator, pack
ice, waves, crest, trough, amplitude, wave height, wavelength, frequency, waves, Coriolis effect, heat capacity,
gravity, low tide, high tide, spring tide, neap tide, ebb, flood, tidal range, tidal cycle, centripetal, centrifugal,
depositional landforms, deposition, erosional feature, erosion, longshore current, rip current, beaches, Pacific,
Atlantic, coastline protection structures, fisheries, mariculture, aquaculture, fossil fuel, latitude, longitude,
tsunami, tidal bore, El Nino, energy, overfishing, maximum sustainable yield, dependent variable, independent
variable, circulation cell, high pressure, low pressure, albedo, rogue wave, interference, constructive
interference, destructive interference, Point Dume, Malibu Lagoon, sea cliff, headland, sea arch, sea cave, sea
stack, tombolo, spit, estuary, turbines, electricity, magnetism, crustaceans, bivalves, algae, renewable energy,
thermal energy, doldrums, horse latitudes, Intertropical Convergent Zone, grunion, and moon.
Drawing:
Be able to draw graphs, atmospheric circulation, and the positions of the moon, earth, sun, and observer in
high/low and spring/neap tides.
Possible Short Answer Questions:
How does the tilt of the Earth affect seasons?
Explain the difference between weather and climate.
How does latitude effect climate?
How are circulation cells related to seafloor spreading?
Explain how wind is created.
Compare and contrast high and low pressure systems.
How do tides effect the grunion?
What forces affect tides? How?
Compare/contrast mariculture and wild fisheries. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Discuss the benefits and challenges of renewable resources from the ocean.
Discuss an environmental issue facing the ocean.
Explain the most important thing you have learned this year in oceanography. Why is that important
Compose a concept map that illustrates the connections between the main concepts of second semester.
Tips:
To create the vocabulary list I went through the test and pulled out important words from the questions. Most
of the words listed above will be in the multiple choice questions.
Be able to interpret and draw graphs.
Oceanography Final Test Grades
Student Scores on Finals
∙What is the dependent variable?
∙What is the independent variable?
∙What does this graph tell us?
∙How will this graph affect your study habits?
# of hours Studied
Make sure you are very familiar with three or four of the possible short answer questions.
Focus on conceptual understanding NOT memorization.
Always read directions. Most people don’t and it hurts their score. Include a graphic with each of your short
answer questions!
Pace yourself to make sure you finish. Skip questions you don’t know and come back to them!
Study hard, don’t cram, review with your friends, eat healthy, sleep well. Good luck…If you have been paying
attention and working hard you won’t need it.