Ocean Unit Test Review Key! Ocean Circulation

Ocean Circulation

1. 
   What are the four components of the climate system of Earth? Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere, Geosphere
   
2. 
   Which two of the components from the previous question did we focus on in the ocean unit? Ocean and Atmosphere
   
3. 
   What is the primary force which drives ocean surface circulation? Wind
   
4. 
   About what percentage of latitudinal heat is transported by ocean circulation? 20%
   
5. 
   What types of things are moved via ocean circulation? (2 main things) Nutrients and organisms
   
6. 
   What is the name of the sharp decrease in temperature which is found between 2000 and 4000 feet? thermocline
   
7. 
   How did the “trade winds” get their name? they correspond with trade routes used by sailing vessels to aid with commerce and the flow of resources
   
8. 
   What are the four currents in the North Atlantic Gyre? (Be able to sketch and label!) Gulf Stream, N. Atlantic, Canary, N. Equitorial
   
9. 
   What factor drives deep ocean circulation? density
   
10. 
    What are the two major elements found in saltwater? sodium & chlorine
    
11. 
    About what percentage of each of the above elements are typically found? ~30% and ~50%
    
12. 
    What two factors allow us to find the density of seawater? (Think of the lab we did) temperature and salinity
    
13. 
    What are the curving lines of equal density called on a Temperature-Salinity graph? isopycnals
    
14. 
    What does the abbreviation NADW stand for? North Atlantic Deep Water
    
15. 
    How does the “ocean conveyer” system work? (Think about what drives surface and deep ocean currents and how they interact) The wind blows, creating surface currents, water moves and then cools/sinks near the poles, the water warms and spreads along the ocean bottom, warms, and rises. (And repeats)
    
16. 
    What can be found in the North Pacific Ocean due to the currents/gyre in this region? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    

17. 
    What is the minimum wind speed for a storm to be considered a hurricane? 74 mph
    
18. 
    Where do tropical storms/hurricanes tend to form? Warm water
    
19. 
    Provide two additional names for a hurricane: cyclone and typhoon
    
20. 
    What is normally found in the center of stronger and well defined hurricanes? a circular “eye”
    
21. 
    What is the name of the hurricane power scale? Saffir-Simpson
    
22. 
    What is the range for the above scale (and which is the least severe)? 1 – 5 (1 is minimal)
    
23. 
    If a hurricane had a wind speed of 160 mph, what Category hurricane would it be? Cat. 5
    
24. 
    What is the number one cause of death IN THE US from hurricanes? Freshwater flooding
    
25. 
    What is the number one cause of death around the world from hurricanes? storm surge
    
26. 
    When is the Atlantic Hurricane Season? June 1^st – November 30^th
    
27. 
    What Category 5 hurricane hit the U.S. in 1969, causing extreme flooding and destruction throughout Virginia? Hurricane Camille
    
28. 
    What two things can kill or weaken a hurricane? Cold Water & Land
    

29. 
    What percentage of seawater is dissolved minerals (by weight)? 3.5%
    
30. 
    What are some ways salinity can increase in an area? Decrease? Decrease salinity – Any process that ADDS water (precipitation, etc). Increase salinity– Any process that TAKES water OUT (evaporation, etc.)
    
31. 
    What are the 3 major layers of the ocean? Surface (Mixed), Transition, Deep
    
32. 
    About what percentage of life on earth can be found in the ocean? ~50%
    
33. 
    What tiny marine organism makes up a majority of Earth’s biomass? (Hint: there are two types, zoo- and phyto-) Plankton
    
34. 
    (True or False) Plankton can move independently of the ocean currents and can go wherever they want. False
    
35. 
    If an organism can move around independently of the ocean currents, what type of classification would this organism receive? Nekton
    
36. 
    What are some examples of Benthos organisms? Octopi, Crustacean, some fish, etc.
    
37. 
    Which factor is used most often to divide the ocean into distinct marine life zones? availability of light
    
38. 
    What are the two classifications for the distinct marine life zones? photic and aphotic
    
39. 
    Which organism is found in all of the ocean layers and can be either boney or cartilaginous? fish
    
40. 
    What painful characteristic makes Cnidarians unique? stinging cells
    
41. 
    What organism (which is normally colonial) is responsible for building up reef’s around the world? coral
    
42. 
    What are the three types of reef? (Be able to label them/recognize them by the pictures!) fringing, barrier, and atoll
    

43. 
    What happens to the sea level during an ice age? drop in global sea level
    
44. 
    What is the primary factor in coastal erosion? wave size
    
45. 
    What current is responsible for moving sand (and sometimes people) down the shore of a beach (parallel to the beach)? Longshore Current
    
46. 
    What are the factors that contribute to healthy coral reef growth? Clear water, normal salinity, warm temperatures, moving water (not stagnant)
    
47. 
    How long does a full tidal cycle (two high tides) take to complete? 24 hr 50 min
    
48. 
    What three objects influence the tidal cycle? earth, moon, sun
    
49. 
    (True or False) Neap Tides are when we observe the highest tidal range? false
    

50. 
    What is your explanation for what is going on in the Bermuda Triangle? (Answers will vary)