Exam 7: Ocean Structure and Circulation

Sigma-t is the oceanographer's short-hand for the density of seawater. It is defined as (density - 1.0) × 103. If the density of seawater is 1.02925g/cm³, the sigma-t value is

The pycnocline is an area where temperature changes rapidly with depth.

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

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

A zone of surface divergence is an area of _______ and ________ biological productivity.

Ocean currents are deflected to a greater degree by the Coriolis Effect than by wind systems.

The Gulf Stream forms eddies, or rings, with cold water cores at the _______ edge of the Gulf Stream current.

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

Which current moves cold water to warm latitudes?

The speed of the Florida current is high because

Surface eddies can be tracked by satellites.