GS 108 Oceanography Lecture Exam 1 Major Study Objectives
please bring a scantron and pencil to the lecture exam!
As you study and prepare for this exam, draw your knowledge from your lecture text, lecture notes and what we
covered in class!!!!! Use applicable information from lab to help you as you study!
CHAPTER 1
Knowing the Ocean World (Intro, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 (Density Stratification & Earth’s Internal Structure))

What is oceanography? What are the different disciplines of oceanography

Name the four principal oceans, plus one.

Describe some of the early voyagers discussed in class (Europeans, Polynesians, Vikings, Magellan)

Who was James Cook and what did he do?

What is latitude and longitude? Why was longitude so difficult to find? What device allowed ocean explorers the
ability to find longitude? Where is the prime meridian (0°longitude found?). Be able to calculate simple longitude
problems.

How is density stratification an important idea in studying oceanography?

Briefly describe how data from earthquakes helped scientist “visualize” the interior of the Earth.

Classify and describe the layers of the earth by composition (crust, mantle, core), and physical properties
(lithosphere, asthenosphere, lower mantle, core). Why is the inner core solid and the outer core liquid?
(remember the relationship between temperature, depth, and pressure!)

Describe isostatic adjustment and its relevance to plate movements.

Describe the components of the scientific method.
CHAPTER 2
Plate Tectonics and Ocean Floor (2.1, 2.2, 2.3)

Who is Alfred Wegener and what were some of his observations that supported the idea of continental drift? Cite
a variety of evidence that supports the notion of continental drift, sea-floor spreading, etc.

Briefly describe how analyzing magnetic field data has supported the idea of sea floor spreading.

What is convection and how does it affect plate movements?

Describe how determining the age of the ocean floor has supported the idea of sea floor spreading.

Explain the concepts of continental drift, sea floor spreading, and global plate tectonics.

How do plate motions differ at diverging, transform, and converging boundaries?

Describe specifically how the following originated: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; the Himalayan Mountains; the San
Andreas Fault; the Japanese Islands?

Where in the oceans would you go to collect a sample of basalt, a sample of granite? Give reason for your
choices.

We spent a lot of time discussing divergent plate boundaries, convergent plate boundaries (ocean-continent,
continent-continent, and ocean-ocean convergences), and transform boundaries! Please be able to discuss
these in detail and give examples of each, as you will most definitely see questions pertaining to these topics!
CHAPTER 3
Ocean Floor Topography (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4)

What is bathymetry? What are ways researchers have studied the ocean floor topography throughout history?

What is the difference between continental margins (passive and active) and ocean basins?

Which type of margin (passive or active) exhibits the greatest geologic activity? Why?

Understand the divisions of margins (continental shelves, slopes, rises, submarine canyons), and characteristics
of each. Be able to label on a diagram.

Understand the divisions of ocean basins (oceanic ridges, hydrothermal vents, abyssal plains & hills, seamounts
& tablemount (goyet), trenches, and island arcs) and characteristics of each.
CHAPTER 4
Sediments (4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7)

How are sediments classified? (size and source)

How does particle size influence transportation and deposition~ for example, which is transported further—clay
(smaller) or gravel (larger)?

Give examples and characteristics of sediments classified by source: terrigenous, biogenous, hydrogenous, and
cosmogenous sediments. How do each originate?

Where do siliceous and calcareous oozes come from?

What is the calcium carbonate compensation depth (CCD)?

What is the difference between neritic and pelagic distributions?

Give examples and describe the resources that can be collected/derived from marine sediments (energy,
sand/gravel, salts, minerals)
CHAPTER 5
Water and Seawater Chemistry (5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8

Be able to draw/describe basic atomic structure.

Be able to draw/describe the structure of a water molecule.

What is a hydrogen bond?

Describe how hydrogen bonds between water molecules relate to adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.

Understand why water is considered the universal solvent.

What is the difference between heat and temperature?

How does water’s melting and boiling points differ from similar chemical compounds?

How does the specific heat of water compare to, say, sand? Other substances?

Describe the relationships between latent heat of vaporization, melting, evaporation, and condensation.

How is the density of water affected by changes in salinity & temperature?

What is a solution~ what makes seawater a solution?

What are the major components of seawater? (give characteristics): major constituents, dissolved gases
(which?), nutrients (why are too many nutrients actually a bad thing?), trace elements, organic compounds

Where does the ocean’s salt come from? How is its salinity measured?

Why does seawater salinity vary from place to place?

Be able to outline the hydrologic cycle.

What is the relationship between carbon dioxide and ocean pH? What implications does this have on many types
of organisms?

Be able to describe the halocline, the thermocline, and the pycnocline.

Describe the methods used to desalinate seawater.