Deck 10: Circulation of the World Ocean

Question 1

The world's ocean is a significant transporter of heat from:

A) polar to equatorial regions
B) equatorial to polar regions
C) mostly west to east in most latitudes
D) none of these

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The N. Pacific gyre causes the California Current to flow _______.

A) from north to south
B) from south to north
C) warm water from Baja northward
D) west to east

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Deep ocean currents are driven by ______.

A) winds
B) density differences
C) bottom topography
D) Earth's rotation

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The densest (heaviest) water has:

A) warm temperature, high salinity
B) warm temperature, low salinity
C) cold temperature, high salinity
D) cold temperature, low salinity

Question 5

Freshest (low salinity) water would be found:

A) in the subtropics
B) in cooler, dry climates
C) near glacier melt coastlines
D) in warmer climates

Question 6

In normal years, the _____ region is the warmest portion of the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

A) western
B) eastern
C) central
D) entire

Question 7

During El Nino events, the ______ equatorial Pacific Ocean are unusually warm.

A) western
B) eastern and central
C) western and central
D) entire

Question 8

During La Nina events, the equatorial trade winds are:

A) stronger than normal
B) normal
C) weaker than normal

Question 9

During strong El Nino events, _________.

A) there are droughts in Australia, Malaysia
B) there are wet conditions in Peru
C) there are wet conditions in the southern US
D) all the above

Question 10

Upwelling and cold surface ocean currents occur generally along:

A) mid-latitude east coasts of continents
B) mid-latitude west coasts of continents
C) both mid-latitude coasts of continents
D) none of these

Question 11

With ocean currents along California and Peru moving towards lower latitudes, Ekman transport causes ________along the coast.

A) warmer water to sink
B) downwelling
C) upwelling
D) cool water to sink

Question 12

The thermocline is a region _______.

A) of warm surface water
B) of cold deep water
C) of rapid change from warm to cold water
D) none of these

Question 13

Like the Gulf Stream, the Kuroshio Current is a warm ocean current off the coast of Japan.

Question 14

In the Northern Hemisphere, south-flowing ocean currents pull water (Ekman transport) to the ____.

A) west
B) east
C) south
D) north

Question 15

The large "Garbage Patch" of the Pacific occurs:

A) off the west coast, near cities
B) in the North Pacific gyre
C) in the South Pacific gyre
D) in the San Francisco Bay

Question 16

What is the Southern Oscillation?

A) another name for El Nino
B) an ocean temperature oscillation off South America
C) oceanic gyres in the Southern Hemisphere
D) none of these

Question 17

The North Atlantic Oscillation:

A) brings colder than normal weather to eastern U.S. during the negative phase.
B) brings colder than normal weather to eastern U.S. during the positive phase.
C) brings warmer than normal weather to eastern U.S. during the negative phase.
D) does not affect weather in the eastern U.S.

Question 18

There is hardly any thermocline in polar ocean water.

Question 19

Ocean currents that are moving poleward are usually considered cold currents.