Question 1

North-flowing winds along the West Coast of North America produce , which has no direct effect on climate or productivity.

Accepted Answer

A)  upwelling 
B)  diverging currents 
C)  downwelling 
D)  converging currents 
A)  upwelling 
B)  diverging currents 
C)  downwelling 
D)  converging currents

Question 2

If San Francisco, California and Washington D.C. lie nearly on the same line of latitude, then why is San Francisco cool, foggy, and mild during the summer months and Washington D.C is hot and humid?

Accepted Answer

Along with the winds, surface currents d

Question 3

Describe the two primary forces that set ocean water in motion and how they drive both surface and thermohaline currents.

Accepted Answer

On a global scale, winds from the atmosp

Question 4

What is upwelling and why is it important for biological productivity?

Accepted Answer

As winds pull the water in horizontal mo

Question 5

Upwelling has no influence on weather.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Geostrophic currents are primarily wind driven.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The Canary Current is an example of a .

Accepted Answer

A)  shallow, cold water current 
B)  deep, cold water current 
C)  warm, southerly current 
D)  mesopelagic current 
A)  shallow, cold water current 
B)  deep, cold water current 
C)  warm, southerly current 
D)  mesopelagic current

Question 8

Upwelling along the coast of California .

Accepted Answer

A)  reduces the temperature of the local coastal climate 
B)  reduces biological productivity 
C)  increases the temperature of the local coastal climate 
D)  is produced by north-flowing winds 
A)  reduces the temperature of the local coastal climate 
B)  reduces biological productivity 
C)  increases the temperature of the local coastal climate 
D)  is produced by north-flowing winds

Question 9

Generally, the fastest and deepest ocean currents are .

Accepted Answer

A)  northern boundary currents 
B)  eastern boundary currents 
C)  western boundary currents 
D)  southern boundary currents 
A)  northern boundary currents 
B)  eastern boundary currents 
C)  western boundary currents 
D)  southern boundary currents

Question 10

Which of these is commonly an effect of El Niño?

Accepted Answer

A)  A decline in the exotic species of fish and other forms of marine life in the affected waters 
B)  A decrease in ocean surface temperature in the eastern Pacific 
C)  A decrease in rainfall in west coastal countries or states of the American continents 
D)  An often catastrophic decrease in the commercial fisheries in Peru 
A)  A decline in the exotic species of fish and other forms of marine life in the affected waters 
B)  A decrease in ocean surface temperature in the eastern Pacific 
C)  A decrease in rainfall in west coastal countries or states of the American continents 
D)  An often catastrophic decrease in the commercial fisheries in Peru

Question 11

Why do gyres flow clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

The primary force responsible for surfac

Question 12

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which statement is true with regard to thermohaline circulation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thermohaline circulation is caused by even and steady global heating of the ocean. 
B)  Thermohaline circulation is the result of heating of the ocean at high latitudes and cooling at low latitudes. 
C)  Thermohaline circulation is driven by density gradients. 
D)  Thermohaline circulation is primarily driven by wind. 
A)  Thermohaline circulation is caused by even and steady global heating of the ocean. 
B)  Thermohaline circulation is the result of heating of the ocean at high latitudes and cooling at low latitudes. 
C)  Thermohaline circulation is driven by density gradients. 
D)  Thermohaline circulation is primarily driven by wind.

Question 14

Antarctic Bottom Water flows water in surface currents.

Accepted Answer

A)  about the same speed as 
B)  slightly faster than 
C)  much faster than 
D)  much slower than 
A)  about the same speed as 
B)  slightly faster than 
C)  much faster than 
D)  much slower than

Question 15

The Gulf Stream is a current that runs south along the eastern coast of the United States.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

San Francisco's characteristic cold and foggy weather during the summer is caused by a .

Accepted Answer

A)  cold eastern boundary current 
B)  warm eastern boundary current 
C)  cold western boundary current 
D)  warm western boundary current 
A)  cold eastern boundary current 
B)  warm eastern boundary current 
C)  cold western boundary current 
D)  warm western boundary current

Question 17

Thermohaline circulation can be studied using .

Accepted Answer

A)  echo sounding machines 
B)  chemical tracers 
C)  drift bottles 
D)  satellite images 
A)  echo sounding machines 
B)  chemical tracers 
C)  drift bottles 
D)  satellite images

Question 18

The North Atlantic gyre is composed of the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the North Equatorial Current.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

What would explain the poor condition for biological productivity in the open tropical ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  Converging currents produce downwelling, thus carrying nutrients to the deep ocean. 
B)  Gyres contain pollution and decaying organisms that use up available nutrients. 
C)  Upwelling delivers seafloor sediment to the surface, thus blocking necessary sunlight for photosynthesis. 
D)  Strong layering isolates deep, nutrient-rich water from the sunlit ocean surface. 
A)  Converging currents produce downwelling, thus carrying nutrients to the deep ocean. 
B)  Gyres contain pollution and decaying organisms that use up available nutrients. 
C)  Upwelling delivers seafloor sediment to the surface, thus blocking necessary sunlight for photosynthesis. 
D)  Strong layering isolates deep, nutrient-rich water from the sunlit ocean surface.

Question 20

The Kuroshio Current is an example of an eastern boundary current.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

North-flowing winds along the West Coast of North America produce , which has no direct effect on climate or productivity.

If San Francisco, California and Washington D.C. lie nearly on the same line of latitude, then why is San Francisco cool, foggy, and mild during the summer months and Washington D.C is hot and humid?

Describe the two primary forces that set ocean water in motion and how they drive both surface and thermohaline currents.

What is upwelling and why is it important for biological productivity?

Upwelling has no influence on weather.

Geostrophic currents are primarily wind driven.

The Canary Current is an example of a .

Upwelling along the coast of California .

Generally, the fastest and deepest ocean currents are .

Which of these is commonly an effect of El Niño?

Why do gyres flow clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere?

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Which statement is true with regard to thermohaline circulation?

Antarctic Bottom Water flows water in surface currents.

The Gulf Stream is a current that runs south along the eastern coast of the United States.

San Francisco's characteristic cold and foggy weather during the summer is caused by a .

Thermohaline circulation can be studied using .

The North Atlantic gyre is composed of the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the North Equatorial Current.

What would explain the poor condition for biological productivity in the open tropical ocean?

The Kuroshio Current is an example of an eastern boundary current.

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Exam 6: Ocean Circulation

North-flowing winds along the West Coast of North America produce , which has no direct effect on climate or productivity.

If San Francisco, California and Washington D.C. lie nearly on the same line of latitude, then why is San Francisco cool, foggy, and mild during the summer months and Washington D.C is hot and humid?

Describe the two primary forces that set ocean water in motion and how they drive both surface and thermohaline currents.

What is upwelling and why is it important for biological productivity?

Upwelling has no influence on weather.

Geostrophic currents are primarily wind driven.

The Canary Current is an example of a .

Upwelling along the coast of California .

Generally, the fastest and deepest ocean currents are .

Which of these is commonly an effect of El Niño?

Why do gyres flow clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere?

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Which statement is true with regard to thermohaline circulation?

Antarctic Bottom Water flows water in surface currents.

The Gulf Stream is a current that runs south along the eastern coast of the United States.

San Francisco's characteristic cold and foggy weather during the summer is caused by a .

Thermohaline circulation can be studied using .

The North Atlantic gyre is composed of the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the North Equatorial Current.

What would explain the poor condition for biological productivity in the open tropical ocean?

The Kuroshio Current is an example of an eastern boundary current.

An Ocean World

Plate Tectonics

The Ocean Floor

Water and Ocean Structure

Atmospheric Circulation

Waves and Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Marine Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters