Question 1

Earth's rotation influences currents by a "force" known as ____.

Accepted Answer

A) an Ekman spiral 
B) geostrophism 
C) the gyre counter rotation 
D) the Coriolis effect 
A) an Ekman spiral 
B) geostrophism 
C) the gyre counter rotation 
D) the Coriolis effect

Question 2

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 3

Currents tend to move in large ____ patterns in the Northern Hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

A) irregular 
B) counterclockwise 
C) clockwise 
D) random 
A) irregular 
B) counterclockwise 
C) clockwise 
D) random

Question 4

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 5

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Thermohaline circulation is a ____ phenomenon.

Accepted Answer

A) small-scale 
B) global 
C) local 
D) coastal 
A) small-scale 
B) global 
C) local 
D) coastal

Question 7

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 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

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 10

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following is an eastern boundary current?

Accepted Answer

A) Canary Current 
B) Kuroship Current 
C) Gulf Stream 
D) North Equatorial Current 
A) Canary Current 
B) Kuroship Current 
C) Gulf Stream 
D) North Equatorial Current

Question 12

The only ocean current that continues in an uninterrupted circle around the circumference of Earth without encountering land is the ____.

Accepted Answer

A) Gulf Stream 
B) Kuroshio, or Japan, Current 
C) Antarctic Circumpolar Current 
D) Canary Current 
A) Gulf Stream 
B) Kuroshio, or Japan, Current 
C) Antarctic Circumpolar Current 
D) Canary Current

Question 13

Describe how ocean currents affect the global distribution of heat and give an example of how they moderate climate.

Accepted Answer

Surface currents that move quickly acros

Question 14

How do scientists study currents?

Accepted Answer

Numerous methods exist to study currents

Question 15

Equatorial upwelling occurs in westward-flowing equatorial surface currents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Upwelling has no influence on weather.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

One example of horizontal water movement is called downwelling.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The mass flow of ocean water that is driven by wind or gravity is referred to as a(n)____.

Accepted Answer

A) wave 
B) ENSO event 
C) current 
D) tide 
A) wave 
B) ENSO event 
C) current 
D) tide

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

As winds pull the water in horizontal mo

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true about an Ekman spiral?

Accepted Answer

A) The net flow of a wind-driven surface current in the Northern Hemisphere will flow at about a 50 ° angle to the wind. 
B) With increasing depth, each layer will move faster than the overlying layer of water. 
C) Because of Ekman transport, at some friction depth, water will be moving in the opposite direction from the surface current. 
D) An Ekman spiral is not influenced by the Coriolis effect. 
A) The net flow of a wind-driven surface current in the Northern Hemisphere will flow at about a 50 ° angle to the wind. 
B) With increasing depth, each layer will move faster than the overlying layer of water. 
C) Because of Ekman transport, at some friction depth, water will be moving in the opposite direction from the surface current. 
D) An Ekman spiral is not influenced by the Coriolis effect.

Earth's rotation influences currents by a "force" known as ____.

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

Currents tend to move in large ____ patterns in the Northern Hemisphere.

Antarctic Bottom Water flows ____ water in surface currents.

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Thermohaline circulation is a ____ phenomenon.

Which statement is true with regard to thermohaline circulation?

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

The Canary Current is an example of a ____.

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

Which of the following is an eastern boundary current?

The only ocean current that continues in an uninterrupted circle around the circumference of Earth without encountering land is the ____.

Describe how ocean currents affect the global distribution of heat and give an example of how they moderate climate.

How do scientists study currents?

Equatorial upwelling occurs in westward-flowing equatorial surface currents.

Upwelling has no influence on weather.

One example of horizontal water movement is called downwelling.

The mass flow of ocean water that is driven by wind or gravity is referred to as a(n)____.

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

Which of the following statements is true about an Ekman spiral?

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

Ocean Basins

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters

Exam 8: Ocean Circulation

Earth's rotation influences currents by a "force" known as ____.

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

Currents tend to move in large ____ patterns in the Northern Hemisphere.

Antarctic Bottom Water flows ____ water in surface currents.

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Thermohaline circulation is a ____ phenomenon.

Which statement is true with regard to thermohaline circulation?

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

The Canary Current is an example of a ____.

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

Which of the following is an eastern boundary current?

The only ocean current that continues in an uninterrupted circle around the circumference of Earth without encountering land is the ____.

Describe how ocean currents affect the global distribution of heat and give an example of how they moderate climate.

How do scientists study currents?

Equatorial upwelling occurs in westward-flowing equatorial surface currents.

Upwelling has no influence on weather.

One example of horizontal water movement is called downwelling.

The mass flow of ocean water that is driven by wind or gravity is referred to as a(n)____.

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

Which of the following statements is true about an Ekman spiral?

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

Ocean Basins

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters