Deck 20: Coastlines and Ocean Basins

Question 1

How deep is the deepest part of the ocean?

A)approximately 1 kilometer deep
B)approximately 10 kilometers deep
C)approximately 3 kilometers deep
D)approximately 30 kilometers deep

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Where is the ocean floor deepest?

A)in oceanic trenches
B)in submarine canyons
C)in rift valleys
D)on the abyssal plain

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true?

A)The continental shelf and continental slope are both shaped by turbidity currents.
B)The continental shelf is shaped by turbidity currents,whereas the continental slope is shaped by waves.
C)The continental shelf is shaped by waves,whereas the continental slope is shaped by turbidity currents.
D)The continental shelf and continental slope are both shaped by waves.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Graded beds of sand,silt,and mud deposited on submarine fans are called

A)alluvial fans.
B)dunes.
C)tills.
D)turbidites.

Question 5

A traverse from North America across the Atlantic Ocean to continental Europe would reveal that the ocean floor

A)has high undersea mountains near both continents and is flat in the middle.
B)has deep trenches near both continents.
C)has a number of active volcanoes along most of the width of the traverse.
D)is approximately symmetric about the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Question 6

Approximately,at what depth does the ocean water become undersaturated with respect to calcium carbonate?

A)1 km
B)2 km
C)4 km
D)5 km

Question 7

What is the carbonate compensation depth in the oceans?

A)the depth at which carbonate minerals are replaced by silicate minerals
B)the depth below which carbonates first appear
C)the depth below which all calcium carbonates dissolve
D)the depth below which calcium carbonate switches from calcite to aragonite

Question 8

Which of the following is an active continental margin?

A)the east coast of Africa
B)the west coast of South America
C)the east coast of North America
D)the west coast of North America

Question 9

In which of the following locations would you most likely find outcrops of basalt on the ocean floor?

A)on the abyssal plain
B)on the continental shelf
C)on the continental rise
D)on the flank of a rift valley

Question 10

The depth at which calcium carbonate starts to dissolve in the oceans is called the

A)depth of dissolution.
B)carbonate dissolving depth.
C)carbonate disappearance depth.
D)carbonate compensation depth.

Question 11

Hydrothermal springs located on the floor of mid-ocean rift valleys can reach temperatures as high as approximately

A)40°C.
B)100°C.
C)400°C.
D)1000°C.

Question 12

Large fan-shaped deposits of fine-grained sediments that accumulate on the continental rise are called

A)alluvial fans.
B)guyots.
C)spits.
D)submarine fans.

Question 13

Which of the following currents erode and deposit fine-grained sediments on the continental slope and rise?

A)longshore currents
B)river currents
C)tidal currents
D)turbidity currents

Question 14

Approximately what is the current annual rise of sea level?

A)1 mm
B)1 cm
C)1 m
D)1 km

Question 15

Which of the following regions is a broad,flat,sand- and mud-covered platform that is part of the continent but slightly submerged?

A)the abyssal plain
B)the continental rise
C)the continental shelf
D)the continental slope

Question 16

Which of the following materials would one expect to find on a continental shelf at a passive margin?

A)basalt
B)pelagic sediments
C)terrigenous sediments
D)volcanic ash

Question 17

Where does most volcanic activity on the seafloor take place?

A)abyssal plains
B)mid-ocean ridges
C)continental shelves
D)oceanic trenches

Question 18

Which of the following statements is false?

A)Deep-sea sedimentation leaves a more continuous geologic record than continental sedimentation.
B)The oceans lack folded and faulted mountains like those on continents.
C)The oldest oceanic crust is much younger than the oldest continental crust.
D)Weathering and erosion are more important in the oceans than on continents.

Question 19

Which of the following are flat-topped seamounts,resulting from erosion of an island volcano when it was above sea level?

A)guyots
B)mesas
C)pediments
D)stacks

Question 20

If one were to start from the east coast of North America and descend into the Atlantic Ocean,one would travel along the

A)continental rise,then the continental shelf,then the continental slope.
B)continental rise,then the continental slope,then the continental shelf.
C)continental shelf,then the continental rise,then the continental slope.
D)continental shelf,then the continental slope,then the continental rise.

Question 21

The surf zone,swash zone,and tide terrace are all a part of the beach

A)dune belt.
B)backshore.
C)offshore.
D)foreshore.

Question 22

The shells of diatoms and radiolaria,which accumulate on the abyssal plain,are composed of

A)calcium carbonate.
B)iron sulfide.
C)silica.
D)sodium chloride.

Question 23

The best policy when it comes to beach preservation is to

A)build groins.
B)build seawalls.
C)transfer the sand from one beach to another.
D)leave it alone.

Question 24

Which of the following statements about the deep ocean is true?

A)Calcium carbonate is more soluble in the deep ocean than in the shallow ocean.
B)The deep ocean contains less carbon dioxide than the shallow ocean.
C)The deep ocean is warmer than the shallow ocean.
D)The pressure is lower in the deep ocean than in the shallow ocean.

Question 25

The extra-low tides that occur when the Sun,Earth,and Moon form a right angle are called ______ tides.

A)autumn
B)neap
C)quarter
D)spring

Question 26

Which of the following describes pelagic sediments?

A)deposited far from continental margins
B)fine-grained
C)settled very slowly to the seafloor
D)deposited far from continental margins,fine-grained,and settled very slowly to the seafloor

Question 27

Why are there often irregular intervals between waves approaching the shore?

A)because different storms in different locations produced the waves
B)because the ocean temperatures vary
C)because the underlying beach is irregular
D)because the wind is often variable

Question 28

The zigzag motion that carries sand grains along a beach is known as

A)longshore drift.
B)meandering.
C)refraction.
D)turbidity.

Question 29

How many high tides are there in a day?

A)one
B)two
C)three
D)four

Question 30

What creates ocean waves?

A)gravitational forces
B)tectonic forces
C)solar forces
D)wind forces

Question 31

A rip current is a strong flow of water moving

A)parallel to the shore.
B)at a 60° angle to the shore.
C)at a 30° angle to the shore.
D)perpendicular to the shore.

Question 32

Near-shore crest-shaped waves are called

A)surf.
B)swell.
C)breakers.
D)backwash.

Question 33

Which of the following equations correctly relates the velocity (V)of a wave to the wavelength (L)and period (T)?

A)V = L × T
B)V = L / T
C)V = L² × T
D)V = T / L

Question 34

A strong flow of water moving away from the shore at right angles is referred to as a

A)swell
B)breaker
C)rip current
D)longshore current

Question 35

What are foraminifera shells,the most abundant biochemically precipitated pelagic sediment,made of?

A)calcium carbonate
B)silicon dioxide
C)sodium chloride
D)iron sulfide

Question 36

What causes the tides?

A)earthquakes
B)gravity
C)ocean currents
D)wind

Question 37

Spring tides occur when

A)Earth's centrifugal force is at a minimum.
B)Earth is at a midpoint between its farthest point from the Sun and its closest point to the sun.
C)the Sun,Earth,and Moon are aligned in a straight line.
D)the Sun,Earth,and Moon form a right angle.

Question 38

Pelagic sediments consist of all of the following,except

A)calcareous oozes
B)quartz sands
C)silica oozes
D)terrigenous clays

Question 39

As waves approach a beach,the rows of waves gradually bend to a direction more parallel to the shore.This change in direction is called

A)longshore drift.
B)swash.
C)tidal surge.
D)wave refraction.

Question 40

The height of an ocean wave increases as

A)the distance over which the wind blows over the water decreases.
B)the wind blows for longer times.
C)the wind speed decreases.
D)the air pressure increases.

Question 41

The collapse of the New Orleans levee system during the 2005 Katrina hurricane was caused by the

A)high winds.
B)rip currents.
C)storm surge.
D)large swells.

Question 42

The Saffir-Simpson Intensity Scale value for a given hurricane is assigned

A)before the hurricane hits land.
B)when the storm hits the beaches.
C)following the storm,once damage has been assessed.
D)while the hurricane is still active on land.

Question 43

Which of the following is in order of increasing intensity?

A)hurricane,tropical storm,tropical depression
B)tropical storm,tropical depression,hurricane
C)tropical depression,hurricane,tropical storm
D)tropical depression,tropical storm,hurricane

Question 44

What is a tsunami?

A)a large wave caused by an undersea earthquake or landslide
B)a strong current parallel to the coastline
C)a tidal surge caused by a storm
D)an unusually high tide that corresponds to the spring and fall equinoxes

Question 45

Horizontal,planar,rocky surfaces that form in the surf zone as a result of wave erosion are called

A)backshores.
B)barrier islands.
C)stacks.
D)wave-cut terraces.

Question 46

The topography of the seafloor actually consists of

A)thin sediments.
B)oceanic ridges and oceanic trenches.
C)volcanoes,ridges,trenches,vast plains,and plateaus.
D)vast flat and featureless plains.

Question 47

Which of the following terms describes isolated erosional remnants of rock left standing in the sea far from the shore?

A)guyots
B)spits
C)stacks
D)wave-cut terraces

Question 48

Hurricanes,as seen from space,most resemble which astronomical phenomenon?

A)supernovae
B)spiral galaxies
C)the Milky Way
D)the Crab Nebula

Question 49

The intensity scale for hurricanes is called the

A)Mercalli Intensity Scale.
B)Saffir-Simpson Intensity Scale.
C)Simpson-Katrina Intensity Scale.
D)Saffir-Mercalli Intensity Scale.

Question 50

An active continental margin

A)may have volcanoes.
B)may have earthquakes.
C)may be close to an oceanic trench.
D)may be inside a continent.

Question 51

Which of the following statements about the intensity values of hurricanes is false?

A)The intensity value is based on damage assessments.
B)The intensity of a hurricane is lower in the "eye."
C)The intensity of a given hurricane can vary depending on location.
D)The intensity value of a hurricane is the same across its entire path.

Question 52

In the western Pacific,hurricanes are known as

A)cyclones.
B)tsunamis.
C)baguios.
D)typhoons.

Question 53

Sea-level changes over geologic time scales can be measured by studying

A)wave-cut terraces.
B)the shape of the continental margin.
C)the changes in sand budget of a beach.
D)the changes in longshore sand bars.

Question 54

One of the most destructive influences of a hurricane is the

A)storm surge.
B)wind gusts.
C)torrential rain.
D)Coriolis effect.

Question 55

How has sea level changed over the past century?

A)dropped 2 to 5 m
B)risen 10 to 25 cm
C)dropped 10 to 25 cm
D)risen 2 to 5 m

Question 56

The first sign of hurricane development is

A)a cluster of thunderstorms over the tropical oceans.
B)a change in the prevailing wind direction off of the continents.
C)a change in sea-level over the tropical oceans.
D)an increase in salinity in the air.

Question 57

What is the difference between tidal surges and tidal waves?

A)Tidal surges are caused by the Moon; tidal waves are caused by the Sun.
B)Tidal surges are caused by large storms; tidal waves are caused by undersea earthquakes.
C)Tidal surges are larger than tidal waves.
D)Tidal surges are made up of groups of tidal waves.

Question 58

The sand budget of a beach is related to

A)the amount of sand that is deposited.
B)the amount of sand that is eroded.
C)the amount of sand that is both deposited and eroded.
D)the amount of sand-sized particles relative to the amount of silt-sized particles.

Question 59

In Hawaii,the difference between low and high tides is approximately 0.5 m.In the Bay of Fundy in eastern Canada,the tidal range can reach

A)1.2 m.
B)6 m.
C)12 m.
D)60 m.

Question 60

Which of the following form a barricade between the open ocean and the main shoreline?

A)abyssal hills
B)barrier islands
C)guyots
D)wave-cut terraces

Question 61

What was the name of the first research vessel to explore the seafloor?

A)H.M.S.Challenger
B)Neil Armstrong
C)Glomar Challenger
D)JOIDES Resolution

Question 62

Deep ocean water is _________ than shallow ocean water.

A)hotter
B)lower in dissolved carbon dioxide
C)under lower pressure
D)poorer in carbonate oozes

Question 63

The swash zone is a part of the beach

A)dune belt.
B)backshore.
C)offshore.
D)foreshore.

Question 64

Guyots,seamounts,and aseismic ridges originate from

A)seismic activity.
B)weathering.
C)volcanic eruptions.
D)undersea mining.

Question 65

Cyclones occur in the

A)Atlantic Ocean.
B)Indian Ocean.
C)Gulf of Mexico.
D)Pacific Ocean.

Question 66

Find the correct order for the beach structure from sea to land.

A)foreshore,offshore,backshore,dune belt
B)offshore,foreshore,dune belt,backshore
C)backshore,offshore,dune belt,foreshore
D)offshore,foreshore,backshore,dune belt

Question 67

Deep sea trenches are most common in the

A)Atlantic Ocean.
B)Arctic Ocean.
C)Indian Ocean.
D)Pacific Ocean.

Question 68

Which of the following bodies of water is not considered a part of the world ocean?

A)Arctic
B)Atlantic
C)Baltic
D)Pacific

Question 69

Which of the following statements about the salinity of the oceans is true?

A)The salinity varies with longitude.
B)The salinity is constant in time and space.
C)The salinity varies depending on the ocean.
D)The Atlantic is saltier than the Pacific.

Question 70

Breakers develop from

A)swash.
B)surf.
C)swells.
D)rip currents.

Question 71

The Saffir-Simpson Intensity Scale intensity scale for hurricanes is based on

A)the areal extent of the hurricane.
B)the size of the "eye" of the hurricane.
C)the maximum wind speed.
D)the expected damage and flooding from the storm.

Question 72

Economically,which of the following is most valuable?

A)mid-ocan ridge
B)continental rise
C)continental slope
D)continental shelf

Question 73

The most common type of rock on the seafloor is

A)granite.
B)andesite.
C)basalt.
D)limestone.

Question 74

Guyots differ from regular seamounts in that

A)they have flat tops,whereas seamounts have peaks.
B)seamounts have flat tops,whereas guyots have peaks.
C)guyots are only found in the Pacific Ocean.
D)they form during volcanism,whereas seamounts do not.

Question 75

When did exploration of the seafloor begin?

A)in the 1600s
B)in the 1700s
C)in the 1800s
D)in the 1900s

Question 76

Which feature is missing from most topographic profiles across the Atlantic Ocean?

A)continental shelf
B)mid-oceanic ridge
C)deep sea trench
D)abyssal plain

Question 77

Which of the sequences below shows changes in a swell from sea to land?

A)surf,swash,breaker
B)swash,breaker,surf
C)breaker,swash,surf
D)breaker,surf,swash

Question 78

Which of the following features is not found on the deep sea floor?

A)folded mountain belts
B)extensive mountain chains
C)volcanic rocks
D)sediments

Question 79

Rip currents develop from

A)swash.
B)longshore current.
C)surf.
D)breakers.

Question 80

Which of the following shoreline phenomena is potentially most dangerous to swimmers?

A)swash
B)longshore current
C)rip current
D)breaker