OCE 100 Winter 2007 Campbell
Review questions for the final exam
The exam will also include material since the 3rd Exam (i.e., Ch. 12-13) and
Aquarium trip. Review the study questions from the latest chapters.
You may bring one 8 1/2 x 11 page of notes (one side) which you will turn in with your exam
1.
2.
What scientific disciplines are within the purview of marine science? Describe a few of the
concerns of each major division of marine science.
How would you describe the “world ocean” to a neighbor. How does it compare with land mass on
earth. How does the proximity of the ocean affect the environment on land, e.g., western
Washington, British isles?
3.
The continents are very old, the seabeds very young. Why is that?
4.
Draw and label a diagram showing a cross-section of a typical ocean basin. If you traveled along
the ocean floor from Seattle to Japan, what structures might you see?
5.
What are the four main kinds of marine sediments? What is the source of each?
6.
What is dissolved in seawater? How is salinity expressed? What is the average salinity of the
world ocean? What are the abundant ions in sea water? Why does the addition of rain and river
water to oceans not decrease the ocean’s overall salinity? How do evaporation and precipitation
rates affect salinity profiles in the open ocean?
7.
What factors affect water density? How is the ocean density stratified? How does it vary by
latitude? Why does frozen water float?
8.
How does the Earth's atmosphere circulate? How does the Coriolis effect influence this
circulation? How is the ocean involved in this circulation? How are upwelling and downwelling
generated along coasts?
9.
Pick a gyre and relate the direction of each current to the prevailing winds, the Coriolis effect, and
landmasses.
10.
What is El Nino? How does it differ from La Nina?
11.
What are three different forces that generate ocean waves. Which of the waves are “shallow
water” and which are “deep water.” What is the difference between a deep water wave and a
shallow water wave?
12.
What causes the tides? There was a full moon on Dec. 5. What effect did this have on the height
of high tides and the height of low tides? Where is the moon in relationship to the sun and earth?
What are 2 physical stresses on inhabitants of the intertidal zone that will be increased while the
moon is full? What is 1 biological stress on inhabitants of the intertidal zone that will be increased
while the moon is full?
13.
How was Puget Sound formed? What are the 4 sections of the Sound? What are some of its
most remarkable features? What are typical shoreline features and environments?
14.
Temperate coastal areas are noted for being very productive (i.e., a high amount of glucose being
made by photosynthesis). However, these aren’t the areas of the world with the most sunlight;
the open ocean in the tropics has more sunlight. Why is productivity higher in temperate coastal
areas?
15.
16.
17.
Is productivity the same above and below the compensation depth? Explain.
How might El Nino affect productivity in the eastern Pacific?
The energy transfer level between trophic levels is about 10%. Why is it so low?