Question 1

A sverdrup (sv) is a measure of:

Accepted Answer

A)  wind speed. 
B)  current speed and direction. 
C)  the volume of water transported in an ocean current. 
D)  the amount of heat transferred to water from the sun. 
A)  wind speed. 
B)  current speed and direction. 
C)  the volume of water transported in an ocean current. 
D)  the amount of heat transferred to water from the sun. C

Question 2

The densest water in ocean currents is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  warmest and saltiest. 
B)  coldest and saltiest. 
C)  warmest and freshest. 
D)  coldest and freshest. 
A)  warmest and saltiest. 
B)  coldest and saltiest. 
C)  warmest and freshest. 
D)  coldest and freshest. B

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

As winds pull the water in horizontal movement, this surface movement will induce vertical movement. As persistent winds blow off the across the ocean, surface winds divert surface waters and are hence replaced by colder waters moving up towards the surface. This phenomenon is called wind-induced vertical circulation and results in upwelling. The colder waters brought to the photic zone by upwelling are rich in nutrients and these nutrients are necessary for biological production or photosynthesis.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT an eastern boundary current?

Accepted Answer

A)  Canary Current 
B)  Benguela Current 
C)  Gulf Stream 
D)  West Australian Current 
A)  Canary Current 
B)  Benguela Current 
C)  Gulf Stream 
D)  West Australian Current

Question 5

A system of four currents completing a flow circuit around the periphery of an ocean basin is collectively called:

Accepted Answer

A)  a cell. 
B)  a gyre. 
C)  a microscale current. 
D)  convection cells. 
A)  a cell. 
B)  a gyre. 
C)  a microscale current. 
D)  convection cells.

Question 6

North Atlantic Deep Water generally moves ____ than the surface currents above, and flows in ____ direction as the Gulf Stream.

Accepted Answer

A)  faster; the same 
B)  faster; the opposite 
C)  slower; the same 
D)  slower; the opposite 
A)  faster; the same 
B)  faster; the opposite 
C)  slower; the same 
D)  slower; the opposite

Question 7

Geostrophic currents are primarily wind driven.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

El Niño results due to an interruption of flow of the ____ Current in the Pacific.

Accepted Answer

A)  Kuroshio 
B)  Equatorial 
C)  Canary 
D)  Antarctic Circumpolar 
A)  Kuroshio 
B)  Equatorial 
C)  Canary 
D)  Antarctic Circumpolar

Question 9

San Francisco's characteristic cold and foggy weather 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 10

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 11

Which of the following statements is FALSE considering 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 lower latitudes and cooling at high latitudes. 
C)  Thermohaline circulation is driven by density gradients. 
D)  Thermohaline circulation transports tropical waters to polar regions. 
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 lower latitudes and cooling at high latitudes. 
C)  Thermohaline circulation is driven by density gradients. 
D)  Thermohaline circulation transports tropical waters to polar regions.

Question 12

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of these is generally not an El Niño effect?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

The Earth's rotation influences currents by a "force" known as:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

All of the following statements accurately describe Geostrophic gyres EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  One of the 6 gyres is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. 
B)  Gyres are influenced by the Coriolis effect and the position of continental land masses. 
C)  Gyres are formed by surface currents that flow in a continuous circuit around the 5 major basins. 
D)  Sea level is higher in the middle of the gyre as a result of the pressure gradient and the Coriolis Effect. 
A)  One of the 6 gyres is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. 
B)  Gyres are influenced by the Coriolis effect and the position of continental land masses. 
C)  Gyres are formed by surface currents that flow in a continuous circuit around the 5 major basins. 
D)  Sea level is higher in the middle of the gyre as a result of the pressure gradient and the Coriolis Effect.

Question 16

Surface winds move across most of the tropical Pacific in a _____________ direction.

Accepted Answer

A)  northeast 
B)  west to east 
C)  east to west 
D)  northwest 
A)  northeast 
B)  west to east 
C)  east to west 
D)  northwest

Question 17

The only ocean current that continues in an uninterrupted circle around the circumference of the 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 18

England's weather is ____ than would be expected at that latitude because of the influence of surface currents.

Accepted Answer

A)  colder 
B)  drier 
C)  less humid 
D)  warmer and wetter 
A)  colder 
B)  drier 
C)  less humid 
D)  warmer and wetter

Question 19

One example of horizontal water movement is called downwelling.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The largest of the western boundary currents is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Gulf Stream. 
B)  California Current. 
C)  East Pacific Gyre. 
D)  Canary Current. 
A)  Gulf Stream. 
B)  California Current. 
C)  East Pacific Gyre. 
D)  Canary Current.

A sverdrup (sv) is a measure of:

The densest water in ocean currents is the:

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

Which of the following is NOT an eastern boundary current?

A system of four currents completing a flow circuit around the periphery of an ocean basin is collectively called:

North Atlantic Deep Water generally moves than the surface currents above, and flows in direction as the Gulf Stream.

Geostrophic currents are primarily wind driven.

El Niño results due to an interruption of flow of the ____ Current in the Pacific.

San Francisco's characteristic cold and foggy weather is caused by a:

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

Which of the following statements is FALSE considering thermohaline circulation?

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Which of these is generally not an El Niño effect?

The Earth's rotation influences currents by a "force" known as:

All of the following statements accurately describe Geostrophic gyres EXCEPT:

Surface winds move across most of the tropical Pacific in a _____________ direction.

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

England's weather is ____ than would be expected at that latitude because of the influence of surface currents.

One example of horizontal water movement is called downwelling.

The largest of the western boundary currents is the:

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

A sverdrup (sv) is a measure of:

The densest water in ocean currents is the:

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

Which of the following is NOT an eastern boundary current?

A system of four currents completing a flow circuit around the periphery of an ocean basin is collectively called:

North Atlantic Deep Water generally moves ____ than the surface currents above, and flows in ____ direction as the Gulf Stream.

Geostrophic currents are primarily wind driven.

El Niño results due to an interruption of flow of the ____ Current in the Pacific.

San Francisco's characteristic cold and foggy weather is caused by a:

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

Which of the following statements is FALSE considering thermohaline circulation?

Ocean gyres are asymmetrical because of the Coriolis effect.

Which of these is generally not an El Niño effect?

The Earth's rotation influences currents by a "force" known as:

All of the following statements accurately describe Geostrophic gyres EXCEPT:

Surface winds move across most of the tropical Pacific in a _____________ direction.

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

England's weather is ____ than would be expected at that latitude because of the influence of surface currents.

One example of horizontal water movement is called downwelling.

The largest of the western boundary currents is the:

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

North Atlantic Deep Water generally moves than the surface currents above, and flows in direction as the Gulf Stream.