Question 1

When geostrophic flow is achieved, the ________ force is balanced by the ________ force.

Accepted Answer

A)  centrifugal; centripetal 
B)  Coriolis; centrifugal 
C)  Coriolis, gravitational 
D)  gravitational; centrifugal 
E)  centripetal; centrifugal 
A)  centrifugal; centripetal 
B)  Coriolis; centrifugal 
C)  Coriolis, gravitational 
D)  gravitational; centrifugal 
E)  centripetal; centrifugal

Question 2

Wind-driven surface currents move at a speed that is ________ the average driving wind speed.

Accepted Answer

A)  the same as 
B)  one tenth 
C)  one one-hundredth 
D)  twice 
E)  None of these is correct; there is no relationship. 
A)  the same as 
B)  one tenth 
C)  one one-hundredth 
D)  twice 
E)  None of these is correct; there is no relationship.

Question 3

In the midlatitudes, in both hemispheres, warm currents flow past the ________ coasts of continents.

Accepted Answer

A)  east 
B)  west 
C)  north 
D)  south 
E)  It depends on the continent. 
A)  east 
B)  west 
C)  north 
D)  south 
E)  It depends on the continent.

Question 4

If the density of the water increases with depth, the water column is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  stagnant 
B)  unstable 
C)  stable 
D)  neutral 
E)  well mixed 
A)  stagnant 
B)  unstable 
C)  stable 
D)  neutral 
E)  well mixed

Question 5

Increasing temperature also increases density.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Water of a lower density usually lies below water of a greater density.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Antarctic bottom water has a very narrow range of both salinity and temperature; this water is nearly homogeneous.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following are affected by the density of the surface water?

Accepted Answer

A)  Transparency 
B)  Density layering 
C)  Convective overturn 
D)  Density layering and convective overturn 
E)  All of these are correct. 
A)  Transparency 
B)  Density layering 
C)  Convective overturn 
D)  Density layering and convective overturn 
E)  All of these are correct.

Question 9

The water type occupying the greatest volume of the Atlantic Ocean is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Antarctic bottom water 
B)  Antarctic intermediate water 
C)  circumpolar Antarctic water 
D)  North Atlantic deep water 
E)  surface water 
A)  Antarctic bottom water 
B)  Antarctic intermediate water 
C)  circumpolar Antarctic water 
D)  North Atlantic deep water 
E)  surface water

Question 10

Downwellings occur at surface convergences.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which current moves warm water to colder latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gulf Stream 
B)  Kuroshio 
C)  Agulhas 
D)  None of these is correct. 
E)  All of these are correct. 
A)  Gulf Stream 
B)  Kuroshio 
C)  Agulhas 
D)  None of these is correct. 
E)  All of these are correct.

Question 12

Which of the following is the most common range of speeds for surface currents?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.1 to 0.2 knots 
B)  0.25 to 1.0 knots 
C)  3 to 5 knots 
D)  10 to 15 knots 
E)  100 to 150 knots 
A)  0.1 to 0.2 knots 
B)  0.25 to 1.0 knots 
C)  3 to 5 knots 
D)  10 to 15 knots 
E)  100 to 150 knots

Question 13

Sigma-t is the oceanographers short-hand for the density of seawater. It is defined as (density − 1.0) × . If the density of seawater is 1.02925 g/cm3, the sigma-t value is

Accepted Answer

A)  25.29. 
B)  2.9925. 
C)  0.2925. 
D)  29.25. 
E)  0.02529. 
A)  25.29. 
B)  2.9925. 
C)  0.2925. 
D)  29.25. 
E)  0.02529.

Question 14

Currents are less intense on the ________ side of the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans.

Accepted Answer

A)  north 
B)  south 
C)  east 
D)  west 
E)  None of these is correct; they are not more intense on one side. 
A)  north 
B)  south 
C)  east 
D)  west 
E)  None of these is correct; they are not more intense on one side.

Question 15

Surface eddies can be tracked by satellites.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

If very warm and salty sea water is added on top of average seawater, ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the warm salty water will float at the surface 
B)  the warm salty water will sink to the bottom and stagnate 
C)  the warm salty water will sink and move rapidly out of the area 
D)  an overturn will begin 
E)  The answer cannot be determined unless the densities of the warm salty water and average sea water are known. 
A)  the warm salty water will float at the surface 
B)  the warm salty water will sink to the bottom and stagnate 
C)  the warm salty water will sink and move rapidly out of the area 
D)  an overturn will begin 
E)  The answer cannot be determined unless the densities of the warm salty water and average sea water are known.

Question 17

Wind blowing across the sea surface can create paired right- and left-handed circulation cells knows as ________ cells, leading to parallel zones of surface convergence and divergence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wind blowing across the sea surface can...

Question 18

In areas of downwelling, a near-surface ________ is unlikely.

Accepted Answer

A)  halocline. 
B)  pycnocline. 
C)  thermocline. 
D)  All of these are correct. 
E)  None of these is correct. 
A)  halocline. 
B)  pycnocline. 
C)  thermocline. 
D)  All of these are correct. 
E)  None of these is correct.

Question 19

Many combinations of salinity and temperature of seawater can produce the same density of seawater.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The North Atlantic gyre rotates counterclockwise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

When geostrophic flow is achieved, the force is balanced by the force.

Wind-driven surface currents move at a speed that is ________ the average driving wind speed.

In the midlatitudes, in both hemispheres, warm currents flow past the ________ coasts of continents.

If the density of the water increases with depth, the water column is ________.

Increasing temperature also increases density.

Water of a lower density usually lies below water of a greater density.

Antarctic bottom water has a very narrow range of both salinity and temperature; this water is nearly homogeneous.

Which of the following are affected by the density of the surface water?

The water type occupying the greatest volume of the Atlantic Ocean is ________.

Downwellings occur at surface convergences.

Which current moves warm water to colder latitudes?

Which of the following is the most common range of speeds for surface currents?

Sigma-t is the oceanographers short-hand for the density of seawater. It is defined as (density − 1.0) × . If the density of seawater is 1.02925 g/cm³, the sigma-t value is

Currents are less intense on the ________ side of the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans.

Surface eddies can be tracked by satellites.

If very warm and salty sea water is added on top of average seawater, ________.

Wind blowing across the sea surface can create paired right- and left-handed circulation cells knows as ________ cells, leading to parallel zones of surface convergence and divergence.

In areas of downwelling, a near-surface ________ is unlikely.

Many combinations of salinity and temperature of seawater can produce the same density of seawater.

The North Atlantic gyre rotates counterclockwise.

The Water Planet

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

The Sea Floor and Its Sediments

The Physical Properties of Water

The Chemistry of Seawater

The Atmosphere and the Oceans

The Waves

The Tides

Coasts, Beaches, and Estuaries

The Living Ocean

The Plankton, Productivity, and Food Webs

The Nekton: Swimmers of the Sea

The Benthos: Living on the Sea Floor

Environmental Issues

The Oceans and Climate Disruption

Filters

Exam 7: Ocean Structure and Circulation

When geostrophic flow is achieved, the ________ force is balanced by the ________ force.

Wind-driven surface currents move at a speed that is ________ the average driving wind speed.

In the midlatitudes, in both hemispheres, warm currents flow past the ________ coasts of continents.

If the density of the water increases with depth, the water column is ________.

Increasing temperature also increases density.

Water of a lower density usually lies below water of a greater density.

Antarctic bottom water has a very narrow range of both salinity and temperature; this water is nearly homogeneous.

Which of the following are affected by the density of the surface water?

The water type occupying the greatest volume of the Atlantic Ocean is ________.

Downwellings occur at surface convergences.

Which current moves warm water to colder latitudes?

Which of the following is the most common range of speeds for surface currents?

Sigma-t is the oceanographers short-hand for the density of seawater. It is defined as (density − 1.0) × . If the density of seawater is 1.02925 g/cm3, the sigma-t value is

Currents are less intense on the ________ side of the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans.

Surface eddies can be tracked by satellites.

If very warm and salty sea water is added on top of average seawater, ________.

Wind blowing across the sea surface can create paired right- and left-handed circulation cells knows as ________ cells, leading to parallel zones of surface convergence and divergence.

In areas of downwelling, a near-surface ________ is unlikely.

Many combinations of salinity and temperature of seawater can produce the same density of seawater.

The North Atlantic gyre rotates counterclockwise.

The Water Planet

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

The Sea Floor and Its Sediments

The Physical Properties of Water

The Chemistry of Seawater

The Atmosphere and the Oceans

The Waves

The Tides

Coasts, Beaches, and Estuaries

The Living Ocean

The Plankton, Productivity, and Food Webs

The Nekton: Swimmers of the Sea

The Benthos: Living on the Sea Floor

Environmental Issues

The Oceans and Climate Disruption

Filters

When geostrophic flow is achieved, the force is balanced by the force.

Sigma-t is the oceanographers short-hand for the density of seawater. It is defined as (density − 1.0) × . If the density of seawater is 1.02925 g/cm³, the sigma-t value is