Chapter 5
Ocean
water is salty because water dissolves many materials. Water’s ability to
dissolve many things is related to the water molecule's _______________.
(a)
electrical polarity
(b)
covalency
(c)
salinity
(d)
constant proportionality
(e)
saturation value
The two
most abundant elements dissolved in seawater are
(a)
flourine and iodine
(b)
gold and silver
(c)
sodium and chloride
(d)
sodium and carbonate
(e)
sulfate and chloride
Bodies
of water like the Red Sea and the
(a)
hypersaline ... evaporation
(b)
hypersaline ... runoff
(c)
brackish ... evaporation
(d)
brackish ... precipitation
(e)
brackish ... runoff
The
amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the oceans has increased in recent decades
(as the oceans have absorbed some human-produced CO2 from the atmosphere). What
effect has this has on the chemistry of the oceans?
(a)
The increasing CO2 has made ocean salinity go up.
(b)
The increasing CO2 has made average residence time go up.
(c)
The increasing CO2 has caused the average depth of the thermocline
to come closer to the surface.
(d)
The increasing CO2 has made the oceans more acidic (i.e. caused pH to go down).
(e)
The increasing CO2 has caused catastrophic density inversions.
There is
no thermocline in ____________ regions because
_______________.
(a)
tropical ... the water is cold below the surface
(b)
tropical ... surface water is so warm
(c)
polar ... the water is cold all the way from the
surface to the depths
(d)
polar ... the Principle of Constant Proportions keeps
water's salinity more or less the same everywhere
(e)
polar ... large rivers lower the salinity of the ocean
surface
A
_______________ represents a change in water temperature with depth, whereas a ______________
represents a change in water density with depth. (Choose the answer with the
correct pair of terms to fill in the blanks.)
(a)
thermocline ... pycnocline
(b)
thermocline ... oxycline
(c)
pycnocline ... halocline
(d)
oxycline ... halocline
(e)
halocline ... pycnocline
Which of
the following is the best explanation for why ice floats on water?
(a)
When ice freezes, it leaves salt behind.
(b)
Ice is denser than water.
(c)
The thermal contraction of water as it cools down causes
ice to form first at the surface, and where it forms, it floats.
(d)
The six-sided structures that water molecules make when they freeze take up
more space than the molecules do in liquid form.
(e)
Ice traps air as it freezes, and the air bubbles make ice float.
The
density of seawater will increase the most if the water's temperature
____________ and the water's salinity ____________.
(a)
freaks out ... weeps and moans
(b)
gets crazy ... gets lazy
(c)
increases ... increases
(d)
decreases ... decreases
(e) decreases ... increases
If a tub
holds 1000 pounds of typical (average) seawater, what will be the weight of the
water (H2O molecules) versus the weight of the dissolved solids? (Hint: the
answer relates to the average salinity of seawater.)
(a)
700 pounds of water; 300 pounds of dissolved solids
(b)
950 pounds of water; 50 pounds of dissolved solids
(c)
965 pounds of water; 35 pounds of dissolved solids
(d)
990 pounds of water; 10 pounds of dissolved solids
(e)
999 pounds of water; 1 pound of dissolved solids
Which
property of the oceans is the most important for the operation of an OTEC
system?
(a)
The high heat capacity of water.
(b)
Water's high latent heat of evaporation.
(c)
Water's high latent heat of condensation.
(d)
The Principle of Constant Proportions.
(e)
The thermocline found in tropical oceans.
For the
same volume of water, which of the following processes will involve the
greatest amount of heat (either heat absorbed or heat released)? (Hint: check
the sections that discuss water's latent heats.)
(a)
Evaporation of liquid water to water vapor.
(b)
Melting of ice to liquid water.
(c)
Freezing of seawater to form ice.
(d)
Increasing the temperature of liquid water from near the freezing point to near
the boiling point.
(e)
All of these processes involve the same amount of heat.
Which of
the following is NOT correct regarding desalination?
(a)
One method of desalination is to boil seawater and collect the water vapor.
(b)
Most of the fresh water produced by desalination in the
(c)
Solar humidification and solar distillation do not require supplemental heat
sources, and have been used effectively in arid regions of the world.
(d)
Freezing seawater produces ice that is nearly fresh, making freeze separation a
particularly efficient method of desalination.
(e)
Reverse osmosis requires pressure.
The
“marine effect” versus the “continental effect” relate most closely to which
property of ocean water?
(a)
residence time
(b)
pH
(c)
electrical polarity
(d)
salinity
(e)
heat capacity
The
electrical polarity of water molecules causes them to stick to each other with
weak bonds called _________________, and this behavior gives water some unusual
properties such as ___________________.
(a)
ionic bonds ... refraction
(b)
hydrogen bonds ... surface tension
(c)
covalent bonds ... polarity
(d)
cohesion bonds ... electron sharing
(e)
None of the above answers are correct.
Water
has high heat capacity. Therefore,
(a)
water can gain or lose a lot of heat with little
change in temperature compared to most other substances.
(b)
over time in a particular area, the temperature of the
ocean will generally change less than the temperature of the land.
(c)
it will take more heat to warm up a pound of water by
20 degrees than to warm up a pound of most other things by the same amount.
(d) (a), (b), and (c) above.
(e)
None of the above.
Chapter 6
The
poles of the earth are much colder on average than the tropical (equatorial)
areas. Which is the best explanation for this? (Hint: consider Figure 6.2,
Table 6.1 and the associated text.)
(a)
The equator is closer to the Sun than are the poles.
(b)
The Sun's rays hit the polar areas at a low angle, but hit the equator at a
nearly perpendicular angle.
(c)
More sunlight hitting the equator is reflected back into space, heating up the
atmosphere on the way.
(d)
The atmosphere is thicker near the equator than it is near the poles.
(e)
The circulation of the atmosphere and the oceans keeps more heat near the
equator than near the poles.
The Coriolis effect
(a)
causes moving air (wind) to curve to the right in the
northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
(b)
causes air to rise at the equator to form part of the
Hadley Cell.
(c)
causes the Sun to heat the earth's surface unevenly.
(d) (a), (b) and (c) above.
(e)
None of the above.
An area
of cool, dense air high in the atmosphere will tend to ___________, causing
high pressure at the earth's surface. The result is that air at the earth's
surface will flow _____________ this area.
(a) rise ... away from
(b)
rise ... toward
(c)
sink ... away from
(d)
sink ... toward
(e)
None of the above.
The
earth's axis is tilted about 23 degrees relative to the plane of its orbit
around the Sun. This is related to
(a)
the changing seasons (spring, summer, autumn and
winter).
(b)
longer days in the summer.
(c)
continuous daylight at the North Pole during the northern
hemisphere summer.
(d) (a), (b) and (c) above.
(e)
None of the above.
The
earth gains heat from the Sun, and loses heat to outer space. Which of the
following is a CORRECT statement about this process? (Hint: consider Figures
6.2 and 6.3 and the associated text.)
(a)
The earth gains the same amount of the Sun's heat, and loses the same amount to
space, everywhere on earth.
(b)
Overall, the earth gains more heat from the Sun than it loses to outer space --
this is why the earth has slowly warmed up since its formation several billion
years ago.
(c)
Overall, the earth loses more heat to outer space than it gains from the Sun --
this is why the earth has slowly cooled down since its formation several
billion years ago.
(d)
In general, there is a net movement of heat from the poles toward the equator.
(e)
Near the equator the earth experiences a net heat gain, while near the poles
there is a net heat loss.
Which
atmospheric phenomenon below is related to the Saffir-Simpson
Scale?
(a) hurricane
(b)
cold front
(c)
trade wind
(d) sea breeze
(e)
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
Legend
holds that the "horse latitudes" got their name when sailors would
throw horses overboard because the sailors
(a)
hated horses.
(b)
were stuck between the trade winds and the westerlies.
(c)
were adrift in the doldrums.
(d)
needed to lighten their ships to keep from sinking in violent
polar front storms.
(e)
needed to lighten their ships to get unstuck from sea
ice.
Most of
the
(a)
prevailing westerlies.
(b)
northeast trades.
(c)
southeast trades.
(d)
polar easterlies.
(e)
None of the above, because the
The
consistent, dependable winds that blow in the tropics within 30 degrees
latitude of the equator are
(a)
northerlies.
(b)
westerlies.
(c)
doldrums.
(d)
trade winds.
(e)
tropical cyclones.
The “iron
hypothesis” most closely relates to which of the following?
(a)
Fertilizing forests with iron might reduce the burden on the oceans for
absorbing excess carbon dioxide.
(b)
Icebergs might be "seeded" with iron particles, providing an
important new source of fresh water for people.
(c)
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere might be reduced by adding iron to the
oceans.
(d)
Seeding clouds with finely ground iron particles might be a way to reduce the
force and destructiveness of hurricanes.
(e)
Seeding clouds with finely ground iron particles might be a way to increase
rainfall and agricultural crop yields.
Which of
the following relates most closely to the formation of sea breezes and land
breezes?
(a)
Rising air in the ITCZ.
(b)
Seasonal shifts of the angle of the sun (the angle of incidence).
(c)
The direction of the prevailing easterly or westerly winds.
(d)
Ocean water changes its temperature less than land does between night and day.
(e)
None of the above.
When a
mass of cold air and a mass of warm air come together at a "front,"
(a)
generally little precipitation will occur.
(b)
a hurricane often forms.
(c)
the warm air tends to move up on top of the cold air,
leading to high precipitation.
(d)
the Saffir-Simpson scale
usually goes up.
(e)
the ITCZ reverses direction.
The
energy that powers tropical cyclones (in other words the energy that makes
these storms occur) comes from
(a)
winds sucked into the eye of the storm.
(b)
heat released by condensation of water vapor.
(c)
the Coriolis effect.
(d)
waves that build up from the powerful winds.
(e)
low atmospheric pressure.
Which of
the following has the features of the atmosphere listed in the correct order,
starting at the equator and heading toward the poles?
(a)
doldrums, trade winds, ITCZ, prevailing easterlies
(b)
prevailing westerlies,
doldrums, trade winds, horse latitudes
(c)
doldrums, trade winds, horse latitudes, prevailing westerlies
(d)
horse latitudes, prevailing westerlies,
doldrums, trade winds
(e)
ITCZ, prevailing westerlies, doldrums, trade winds
Which of
the following represents a predicted effect of global warming?
(a)
increasing acidity of ocean water
(b)
increasing intensity of hurricanes
(c)
more severe droughts and more intense heat waves
(d)
higher sea levels
(e)
All of the above.
Chapter 7
A
subtropical gyre is
(a)
a circular movement of water in cold-core and
warm-core eddies.
(b)
a circular path of ocean currents driven by the
prevailing winds.
(c)
a circular path of water motion in a wave.
(d)
a circular path of water vapor in Hadley Cells.
(e)
a circular path of water created when water sinks near
the poles and rises again eventually near the equator.
Ocean
SURFACE currents are driven mainly by __________________, while DEEP currents
are driven mainly by __________________.
(a)
the trade winds ... the westerlies
(b)
ocean waves ... differences in salinity
(c)
the Moon's gravity ... the tides
(d)
the prevailing winds ... differences in water density
(e)
the equatorial currents ... the equatorial
counter-currents
Much ocean
surface current flow moves in large circular loops called "subtropical
gyres." Which of the following statement is NOT correct regarding these
gyres? (Hint: look at Fig. 7.5 and the associated text.)
(a)
There are five major subtropical gyres.
(b)
Each gyre forms a loop made of four main currents.
(c)
The equatorial currents in each gyre flow from west to east.
(d)
The water in a gyre flows in a clockwise loop in northern hemisphere gyres, and
in a counter-clockwise loop in southern hemisphere gyres.
(e)
The gyres carry warm water away from the equator and cool water toward the
equator.
Ocean
surface currents move in large loops called "subtropical gyres."
Which of the following is CORRECT regarding the eastern and western boundary
currents within these gyres? (Hint: look at Fig. 7.5, the associated text.)
(a)
Eastern boundary currents flow toward the equator, while western boundary
currents flow away from the equator.
(b)
In the Pacific Ocean, the
(c)
In the Atlantic Ocean, the Canary Current forms an eastern boundary current and
the
(d) (a),(b) and (c) above are all correct.
(e)
None of the above are correct.
The
(a)
warm ... north ... east
(b)
warm ... south ... east
(c)
warm ... south ... west
(d)
cold ... north ... east
(e)
cold ... south ... east
Which of
the following is most closely related to the formation of equatorial
counter-currents?
(a)
The convergence of the
(b)
The westward intensification of subtropical gyres.
(c)
The prevailing westerly winds.
(d)
Differences in sea level on the east versus west sides of an ocean basin.
(e) Ekman Transport of water into
the centers of gyres.
Because
of Ekman Transport
(a)
cold, salty water sinks at high latitudes.
(b)
coastal upwelling or downwelling
will develop best in areas where the wind blows parallel to the coastline.
(c)
surface currents flow to the right of the wind
direction in the northern hemisphere and to the left of the wind direction in
the southern hemisphere.
(d) (a) and (b) above.
(e)
(b) and (c) above.
Which
current within the
(a)
The West Wind Drift.
(b)
The
(c)
The Canary Current.
(d)
The Benguela Current.
(e)
The North Equatorial Current.
Which of
the following is CORRECT about currents and upwelling?
(a)
Upwelling occurs most strongly in the centers of the subtropical gyres.
(b)
If wind direction and Ekman Transport combine to make
the surface water along a coast flow toward the coast, then there will probably
be upwelling along that coast.
(c)
Cold upwelling water tends to be rich in nutrients and therefore supports lots
of marine life.
(d) (a), (b) and (c) above all all
correct.
(e)
None of the above are correct.
During
the warm phase of an ENSO (also called "El Nino")
(a)
trade winds grow weak or even reverse direction.
(b)
areas in the eastern Pacific (from
(c)
large amounts of water in the Pacific warm pool flow
east toward
(d)
the biological productivity of the Pacific Ocean near
the coast of
(e)
All of the above.
Thermohaline circulation is related to
(a)
the formation of monsoons.
(b)
the formation of deep currents.
(c)
the development of ENSO.
(d)
the formation of warm-core and cold-core rings.
(e)
the formation of subtropical gyres.
Which of
the following relates most closely to “conveyor-belt” circulation?
(a)
The creation of equatorial currents by the trade winds.
(b)
The conveyor-belt like movement of water away from the equator in western
boundary currents.
(c)
The movement of warm water east along the equator during El Nino.
(d)
The movement of cold water west along the equator during La Nina.
(e)
The sinking of cold, dense water in the
The only
surface ocean current that flows continually around the earth uninterrupted by
land is the
(a)
Agulas Current.
(b)
West Wind Drift.
(c)
Pacific North Equatorial Current.
(d)
North Atlantic Deep Water Current.
(e)
Antarctic Intermediate Water Current.
The
movement of ocean currents has been studied and measured using
(a)
submersible floats equipped with data transmitters.
(b)
chemical tracers.
(c)
drifting toys and shoes washed overboard from
container ships.
(d) (a), (b), and (c) above.
(e)
None of the above.
What is
different about the water offshore of
(a)
There is stronger upwelling than normal.
(b)
The surface water temperature is higher than normal.
(c)
Marine life is more abundant than normal.
(d) (a), (b) and (c) above.
(e)
None of the above.