Deck 24: The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Question 1

The origin of Earth's oceans is from

A)comet debris.
B)melting of polar ice caps.
C)volcanic eruptions.
D)comets and volcanic eruptions.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Plants evolved the ability of photosynthesis during the

A)Cambrian period.
B)Precambrian.
C)Paleozoic era.
D)Pleistocene.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Compared with San Francisco,California,winter air temperatures and air density in Denver,Colorado,are

A)the same.
B)cooler and thinner.
C)cooler and denser.
D)warmer and denser.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Earth's first atmosphere was composed of

A)oxygen,hydrogen,and helium.
B)hydrogen and helium,with trace amounts of ammonia and methane.
C)gases from volcanic eruptions.
D)oxygen,water vapor,carbon dioxide,and methane.

Question 5

The Earth's oceans evolved

A)from condensation of water vapor in a hydrogen-oxygen rich atmosphere.
B)from condensation of water vapor from volcanic eruptions.
C)with accumulation of rainfall.
D)as Earth warmed.

Question 6

Coastal lands bordering the oceans generally have

A)colder temperatures than lands away from the ocean.
B)more moderate temperature variations than inland areas.
C)more scenery than land in the continental interior.
D)tropical temperatures due to the high heat capacity of water.

Question 7

Earth's original atmosphere was

A)very similar to the atmosphere we have today.
B)rich in both O₂ and O₃.
C)obliterated after the birth of the Sun.
D)a mixture of N₂,CO₂,and O₃.

Question 8

What is the significance of the ozone layer?

Question 9

Ozone in the Earth's upper atmosphere

A)filters incoming infrared light reaching Earth's surface.
B)filters incoming visible light reaching Earth's surface.
C)filters incoming ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth's surface.
D)acts as a blanket to keep Earth's surface warm.

Question 10

The process of photosynthesis is important because it

A)converts carbon and water to hydrocarbon and free oxygen.
B)contributed to the development of an ozone layer.
C)is an energy source that drives the geologic process.
D)allowed increased infiltration of solar energy.

Question 11

Fresh water enters the ocean by runoff from streams and rivers,

A)precipitation of rain over the ocean,and evaporation of coastal waters.
B)evaporation of surface water,and melting of glacial ice.
C)precipitation,and melting of glacial ice.
D)none of these

Question 12

Earth's earliest atmosphere was lacking in

A)carbon dioxide.
B)hydrogen.
C)free oxygen.
D)photosynthesis.

Question 13

The origin of Earth's primitive ozone layer

A)is attributed to photosynthesis.
B)traces back to the Cambrian period.
C)is attributed to volcanic eruptions.
D)helped to form the oceans.

Question 14

Earth's earliest atmosphere was most likely composed of hydrogen,helium,

A)oxygen,and nitrogen.
B)methane,and nitrogen.
C)methane,and ammonia.
D)oxygen,and ozone.

Question 15

Why are temperature fluctuations greater over land than water?

Question 16

Going from continental land toward the deep ocean basin,the continental margin consists of the

A)slope,the shelf,and the rise.
B)rise,the slope,and the shelf.
C)shelf,the slope,and the rise.
D)shelf,abyssal plain,and the mid-ocean ridge.

Question 17

What impact does the formation of the ozone layer have on our planet?

Question 18

Most of Earth's water is in the

A)oceans.
B)polar ice caps.
C)rivers,lakes,and stream.
D)ground.

Question 19

Earth's atmosphere probably developed from gases escaping from its interior during volcanic eruptions.This outgassing also produced Earth's

A)protective ozone layer.
B)oceans.
C)numerous mountain belts.
D)ionosphere.

Question 20

The Earth's largest ocean is the

A)Atlantic.
B)Pacific.
C)Arctic.
D)World Ocean-there is one big ocean taking up three-quarters of the world!

Question 21

The movement of water in a wave travels

A)with the wave.
B)in a circular path at and just below the water surface.
C)in a circular path at a depth of one-half the wavelength.
D)in both a longitudinal and circular path.

Question 22

Ocean trenches such as the Tonga and Marianas Trench,are

A)subduction zones where lithosphere is pulled down to the asthenosphere.
B)some of the steepest places on Earth.
C)found at continental-continental plate boundaries that mark the the deepest places on Earth.

Question 23

The extent of the continental shelf,an underwater extension of continental crust from shoreline to basin,varies due to fluctuations in sea level.When sea level is lower,the continental shelf is

A)is narrow because less of the continental shelf is exposed.
B)is narrow because less of the continental shelf is submerged.
C)wider because some of the continental land would be submerged.

Question 24

The orbital motion of a wave is greatest (has the largest "diameter")at

A)the wave base.
B)about one-half the depth of the wave base.
C)a depth of one-half the wavelength.
D)the surface.

Question 25

When evaporation at the ocean surface exceeds precipitation,the salinity of seawater

A)increases.
B)decreases.
C)stays the same.

Question 26

The extent of the continental shelf,an underwater extension of the continental crust,varies due to fluctuations in sea level.When sea level is higher,the continental shelf

A)is narrow because less of the continental shelf is exposed.
B)is narrow because less of the continental shelf is submerged.
C)wider because some of the continental land would be submerged.

Question 27

Compared with equatorial open ocean waters,open ocean water in the northern Pacific

A)is colder and less dense.
B)has a higher salinity content.
C)is colder and more dense.
D)has a lower salinity content.

Question 28

The average salinity of ocean water is

A)96.5 parts per thousand.
B)16 parts per thousand.
C)35 parts per thousand.
D)3.5 parts per thousand.

Question 29

Where do the ocean's salts originate?

Question 30

The mid-oceanic ridge systems in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are

A)high points in the ocean basins where new crust is being made.
B)the tallest features in Earth's ocean basins.
C)some of the oldest rock formations on Earth's surface.

Question 31

Ocean waves and currents generally form as a result of

A)swells.
B)the rotation of the Earth.
C)differences in ocean density.
D)wind.

Question 32

The two most abundant elements that make up the salinity of seawater are

A)sodium and potassium.
B)chlorine and sulfur.
C)calcium and sulfur.
D)chlorine and sodium.

Question 33

When a wave moves,the water

A)moves along with the wave.
B)follows a straight up and down path.
C)follows a roughly circular path.
D)moves with the wave to a depth of one-half the wavelength,while deeper water follows a circular orbit.

Question 34

Factors that increase ocean salinity are

A)runoff from streams and rivers.
B)formation of sea ice.
C)precipitation.
D)glacial melting.

Question 35

What factors increase salinity in the ocean? What factors decrease salinity?

Question 36

As a water wave approaches a shoreline,wave speed

A)increases.
B)decreases.
C)is unchanged.
D)and wavelength increase.

Question 37

When precipitation at the ocean surface exceeds evaporation,the salinity of seawater

A)increases.
B)decreases.
C)stays the same.

Question 38

Fresh water leaves the ocean by evaporation,

A)and seawater freezing.
B)precipitation,and runoff.
C)sublimation,seawater freezing.
D)and formation of ice.

Question 39

Features of the deep ocean basins include abyssal plains,ocean trenches,mid-ocean ridges,and seamounts-all of which are composed of

A)plutonic rock.
B)granite.
C)basalt.

Question 40

In the topography of the ocean basins,high points such as seamounts and abyssal hills are composed of

A)plutonic rock.
B)volcanic rock.
C)accumulated sediments washed down from the continents.

Question 41

Waves are altered when they enter shallow water.They change

A)direction by refraction,they steepen and break.
B)direction by refraction,they increase in speed,steepen,and break.
C)direction by reflection,they increase in energy,steepen,and break.
D)intensity by refraction,they lose energy,steepen and break.

Question 42

The most common depositional shoreline feature is a

A)beach.
B)wave-cut platform.
C)barrier island.
D)seamount.

Question 43

In a swell,wavelength is constant.As a swell touches bottom,the wavelength

A)increases and velocity decreases.
B)shortens and velocity decreases.
C)shortens and velocity increases.
D)and velocity increase.

Question 44

Suppose the Moon had twice as much mass as it does now and still orbits Earth at the same distance.In that case,the ocean bulges on Earth would be

A)larger.
B)smaller.
C)unequal in size.
D)not significantly different.
E)none of these

Question 45

In a swell,wavelength is constant.As a swell nears the shore and touches bottom,the wavelength

A)shortens,wave speed slows,and wave height increases.
B)shortens,wave speed slows,and wave height decreases.
C)and wave height increase as wave speed slows.
D)and wave height increase as wave speed quickens.

Question 46

With respect to the stars,the Moon

A)circles the Earth.
B)and the Earth circle each other.
C)remains stationary while the Earth circles about it.
D)does not rotate about its own axis as the Earth does.

Question 47

As waves enter shallow water,wave speed

A)decreases,causing the wave to bend perpendicular to the shore.
B)increases,causing the wave to bend parallel to the shore.
C)decreases,causing the wave to bend parallel to the shore.
D)increases,causing the wave to bend perpendicular to the shore.

Question 48

Along the open ocean,barrier islands are zones of

A)relatively quiet waters.
B)deposited sand ridges formed offshore and parallel to the coast.
C)intense vegetation growth.
D)eroded sand ridges.

Question 49

Which is most responsible for the ocean tides?

A)the Moon
B)the Sun
C)Both contribute equally.

Question 50

Ocean waves refract due to

A)wave interference.
B)ocean swells.
C)shallow water.
D)transverse motion.

Question 51

At what water depth is an ocean wave affected by the ocean floor?

A)It depends on the wave's angle of approach to the shoreline.
B)The ocean floor has no impact on ocean waves.
C)At the depth equal to one-half the wave's wavelength.
D)At the depth where transverse motion dominates.

Question 52

The main reason ocean tides exist is that the pull of the Moon

A)and Sun are in conjunction at high tides and in opposition at low tides.
B)is greater on oceans closer to the Moon and less on oceans farther from the Moon.
C)is greater on Earth because the Moon is closer to Earth.
D)and the Sun on the oceans are in opposite directions.
E)none of these

Question 53

Which pulls on the oceans of Earth with the greater force?

A)the Moon
B)the Sun
C)The Sun and the Moon both pull the same.

Question 54

Tidal forces in general are the result of

A)two or more sources of gravitation.
B)a combination of any kind of forces acting on a body.
C)unequal forces acting on different parts of a body.
D)the inverse-square law.
E)unequal fluid flow.

Question 55

Which of the following shoreline features does not belong in association with the others?

A)sea stack
B)sea caves
C)spit
D)sea arch

Question 56

Common erosional shoreline features include sea stacks,

A)beaches,and barrier islands.
B)wave-cut platforms,sea caves,and sea arches.
C)sea caves,sea arches,and atolls.
D)wave-cut platforms,sea caves,and sea spits.

Question 57

The best time for digging clams (when low tide is extra low)is during the time of the

A)new or full moon.
B)half moon.
C)quarter moon.
D)none of these times.

Question 58

Water movement in a wave in the surf zone is characterized by

A)steepened wave height and longer wavelength.
B)steepened wave height and shorter wavelength.
C)a surfable wave crest and increased wavelength.
D)shallow water depth and a steepened long wavelength.

Question 59

One of the results of wave refraction is that

A)wave energy is concentrated at headlands that project into the water.
B)wave energy is concentrated in the recessed parts of the coast between headlands.
C)sediment is deposited in the vicinity of headlands,making them larger.
D)wave energy is dissipated before the waves reach the shoreline.

Question 60

Sand spits are formed from sand

A)carried along the coast by longshore transport.
B)swept up from the seafloor and heaped up along the shore by wave action.
C)swept up from the continental rise.
D)swept into a heap by tidal currents.

Question 61

Going from Earth's surface up toward space,the atmospheric layers are the troposphere,

A)troposphere,stratosphere,ozonosphere,mesosphere,thermosphere,ionosphere,and exosphere.
B)exosphere,thermosphere,mesosphere,stratosphere,and troposphere.
C)exosphere,ionosphere,thermosphere,mesosphere,ozonosphere,stratosphere,and troposphere.
D)troposphere,stratosphere,mesosphere,thermosphere,and the exosphere.

Question 62

At lower elevations the air is generally

A)warm and heavy.
B)warm and light.
C)cool and heavy.
D)cool and light.

Question 63

As the Moon and Earth pull on one another,the oceans bulge about 1m on opposite sides of the Earth.In Earth's daily rotation,the area that passes the bulge experiences high tide.The time of the high tides fluctuates because

A)not all areas of Earth use daylight savings time.
B)while Earth spins on its axis,the Moon orbits the Earth-the timing is a bit off.
C)as Earth spins on its axis,the Moon spins on its own axis-the timing is a bit off.

Question 64

If the Moon were covered with water,tidal effects by Earth would find the Moon with

A)1 tidal bulge.
B)2 tidal bulges.
C)3 tidal bulges.
D)4 tidal bulges.
E)no tidal bulges.

Question 65

The ozone layer is a region within the

A)troposphere.
B)stratosphere.
C)mesosphere.
D)ionosphere.

Question 66

The layers of Earth's atmosphere,from top to bottom,are the

A)troposphere,stratosphere,ozonosphere,mesosphere,thermosphere,ionosphere,and exosphere.
B)exosphere,thermosphere,mesosphere,stratosphere,and troposphere.
C)exosphere,ionosphere,thermosphere,mesosphere,ozonosphere,stratosphere,and troposphere.
D)troposphere,stratosphere,mesosphere,thermosphere,and the exosphere.

Question 67

Warm climates favor carbonate deposition because carbonates dissolve more easily in cold water than in warm water.Name two types of carbonate depositional environments.

Question 68

Which would have the greater effect on Earth's ocean tides-a Moon with a greater diameter,or Earth with an increased diameter? Explain.

Question 69

As you ascend in elevation,the air generally becomes

A)warm and heavy.
B)warm and less dense.
C)cool and heavy.
D)cool and less dense.

Question 70

The ionosphere

A)is produced by the action of solar radiation and atmospheric atoms.
B)consists of ozone ions.
C)reflects solar ultraviolet and atmospheric atoms.
D)occurs at roughly the same altitude as high clouds.

Question 71

Air temperature and pressure ________ with increasing elevation and ________ as you approach sea level.

A)decrease; increase
B)increases; decreases
C)cools and thins; warms and thins
D)cools and becomes denser; warms and becomes more dense

Question 72

There are no tides to be seen in the community swimming pool because

A)gravitation on the small mass of water is negligibly small.
B)it is shallow compared to the ocean.
C)all parts of it are practically the same distance from the Moon.
D)they are masked by the much stronger pull of Earth's gravity.
E)But there are,at nighttime.

Question 73

If the Moon were four times as massive but twice as far from Earth,high tides on Earth would be

A)higher.
B)lower.
C)no different.

Question 74

For lunar tides to occur in the human body,

A)most of the body would have to be in the liquid state.
B)Earth's gravitation would have to be incredibly small.
C)parts of the body would have to be appreciably closer to the Moon than other parts.
D)the body would have to be female,as evidenced by women's monthly menstrual cycles.
E)none of these

Question 75

The atmosphere is divided into several layers.The troposphere is the

A)lowest and thickest layer,where Earth's weather occurs.
B)lowest and thinnest layer,where Earth's weather occurs.
C)atmosphere's third and thickest layer.
D)lowest and least dense layer in the atmosphere,where Earth's weather occurs.

Question 76

Identify erosional features of the shoreline.Identify depositional features of the shoreline.

Question 77

The ionosphere is an electrified ion-rich area

A)in the uppermost troposphere.
B)where atoms lose their electrons and are negatively charged.
C)where air density and solar radiation is low.
D)within the uppermost mesosphere and thermosphere.

Question 78

The ionosphere is an electrified ion-rich area

A)in the uppermost troposphere.
B)where atoms lose their electrons and are negatively charged.
C)where air density and solar radiation is low.
D)within the uppermost mesosphere and thermosphere.

Question 79

The Sun exerts almost 200 times more force on the oceans of the Earth than the Moon does.Why then,is the Moon more effective in raising tides?

Question 80

What is the most common depositional feature created by the work of the oceans?