Deck 16: Oceans and Coastlines

Question 1

The average salinity of the ocean is __________ percent.

A) 70
B) 35
C) 7
D) 3.5

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The relatively smaller tides that occur when the Moon is out of alignment with the Sun and Earth are called __________ __________.

Answer 2

neap tides

Question 3

A spring tide is a __________ tide formed when the Sun and Moon are __________.

A) small, 90° out of alignment
B) large, 90° out of alignment
C) small, aligned
D) large, aligned

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A long ridge of sand or gravel extending out from a beach is called a/an __________.

Question 5

A/an __________ is a wave-resistant ridge or mound built by corals, algae, and other organisms.

Question 6

The layer of pronounced temperature change with water depth is called __________.

A) thermocline
B) halocline
C) pycnocline
D) tempicline

Question 7

If waves cut a cave into a narrow headland, the cave may eventually erode all the way through the headland, forming a/an __________ __________.

Question 8

A/an __________ is any strip of shoreline washed by waves and tides.

Question 9

When the flow of the tide is funneled through a narrow entrance to a bay, a __________ __________ results.

Question 10

Once a wave breaks, its water flows toward the beach as a chaotic, turbulent mass called __________.

Question 11

The world's largest and deepest ocean is the __________ Ocean.

A) Atlantic
B) Pacific
C) Indian
D) Arctic

Question 12

When deep ocean water rises to the surface, the upward flow is called a/an __________.

Question 13

The deflection of currents caused by the Earth's rotation is called the __________ __________.

Question 14

A/an __________ is a continuous flow of water in a particular direction.

Question 15

If a coastline is flooded or sea level rises a/an __________ coastline is created.

Question 16

Circular paths of ocean currents are called __________.

Question 17

A sheltered body of water between the shore and a barrier island is a/an __________.

Question 18

The __________ is the highest part of a wave.

A) wave crest
B) wave trough
C) wave height
D) wavelength

Question 19

The __________ of seawater is the total quantity of dissolved salt, expressed as a percentage.

Question 20

The __________ is the distance between successive crests or troughs of a wave.

Question 21

During the past 40,000 years, sea level has fluctuated by __________ meters.

A) 0.15
B) 1.5
C) 15
D) 150
Multiple Choice

Question 22

Ocean water density depends on __________.

A) temperature only
B) salinity only
C) temperature and salinity
D) water color

Question 23

Surface water becomes denser when it becomes __________ and __________.

A) warm, salty
B) warm, less salty
C) cool, salty
D) cool, less salty

Question 24

Surface currents are mostly __________-driven.

A) gravity
B) sand
C) zooplankton
D) wind

Question 25

Circular paths of ocean currents are called __________.

A) atolls
B) guyots
C) belts
D) gyres

Question 26

The wave height is the:

A) highest part of a wave.
B) distance between successive crests.
C) fetch of a wave.
D) vertical distance between the crest and the trough of a wave.

Question 27

The size of waves depends on:

A) wind speed, length of time the wind has been blowing, and fetch.
B) wind speed, length of time the wind has been blowing, and ocean color.
C) wind speed, fetch, and ocean color.
D) length of time the wind has been blowing, fetch, and ocean color.

Question 28

Deep-sea currents are driven by:

A) wind.
B) the Coriolis effect.
C) gravity.
D) the Gulf Stream.

Question 29

The Sea of Cortez lies in a subtropical region between the Baja Peninsula and the west coast of Mexico. Most of the surrounding land is desert, and the one large river, the Colorado, empties only a small amount of water into the sea. In contrast, the Strait of Georgia lies off the temperate coast of British Columbia and is fed by melting glaciers and many streams. Which of the following comparisons of the salinities of these regions is correct?

A) The Sea of Cortez is saltier because freshwater input is low and evaporation is high.
B) The Strait of Georgia is saltier because cool temperatures promote salt crystallization.
C) The Strait of Georgia is saltier because the numerous rivers transport salt water into the sea.
D) Both regions have the same salinity because all of the oceans are interconnected and the salt is evenly dispersed.

Question 30

Ocean waves:

A) are continuous flows of water in a particular direction.
B) oscillate in circles.
C) are found only near closely spaced islands.
D) are found only in the central oceans.

Question 31

Longshore currents transport sediment __________.

A) perpendicular to the coast
B) in a zigzag pattern along the coast
C) parallel to the coast
D) in circular patterns

Question 32

__________ are continuous flows of water in a particular direction.

A) Currents
B) Waves
C) Gyres
D) Crests

Question 33

Due to the Coriolis effect, currents in the Northern Hemisphere:

A) are deflected to the left.
B) are deflected to the right.
C) flow straight only.
D) flow counterclockwise.

Question 34

A neap tide is a:

A) small tide formed when the Sun and Moon are 90° out of alignment.
B) large tide formed when the Sun and Moon are 90° out of alignment.
C) small tide formed when the Sun and Moon are aligned.
D) large tide formed when the Sun and Moon are aligned.

Question 35

Upwelling carries:

A) warm water from the central ocean toward the coasts.
B) cold water from the ocean depths to the surface.
C) warm water from the ocean depths to the surface.
D) nutrients down to the deep ocean.

Question 36

The thermocline:

A) is the upper warm surface of the ocean.
B) is the middle layer of the ocean where temperature drops rapidly with depth.
C) is the lowest layer of the ocean.
D) does not exist near the equator where the ocean is hottest.

Question 37

A sand bar forming an island parallel to the shore is called a/an __________.

A) oceanic island
B) atoll
C) seawall
D) barrier island

Question 38

If waves strike shore at an angle, they __________ and create a/an __________ current that flows parallel to the beach.

A) refract, longshore
B) refract, tidal
C) speed up, longshore
D) speed up, tidal

Question 39

An emergent coastline forms where sea level __________ or coastal land __________.

A) falls, sinks
B) falls, rises
C) rises, sinks
D) rises, rises

Question 40

The wavelength is the:

A) highest part of a wave.
B) distance between successive crests.
C) fetch of a wave.
D) vertical distance between the crest and the trough of a wave.

Question 41

Coral reefs thrive best over a wide temperature range.

Question 42

The world fish harvest is predicted to decline sharply after 2010.

Question 43

Most of the photosynthesis and nutrient consumption in the ocean is carried out by:

A) large marine mammals.
B) deep dwelling organisms.
C) bacteria.
D) plankton.
True/False

Question 44

The backshore is the:

A) region below the low tide mark.
B) low tide mark.
C) region between the high and low tide lines.
D) region above the normal high tide line that is washed by waves only during storms.

Question 45

On a submergent coastline, a portion of the continental shelf that was previously underwater becomes exposed as dry land.

Question 46

Most coastal erosion occurs during intense storms.

Question 47

Ocean waves steepen near shore because:

A) the lower portion of the wave slows down as it drags against the sea floor.
B) the wave length increases.
C) they speed up.
D) the lower part of the wave speeds up as it reflects off the sea floor.

Question 48

A wave breaks when the wave steepens until it collapses forward.

Question 49

A wave-cut platform is a common feature of sediment-poor coastlines.

Question 50

Coral reefs develop in:

A) clear, shallow, tropical water.
B) silty places.
C) cold oceans.
D) areas with little sunlight.

Question 51

An ocean wave moves along the sea surface, but the water in the wave travels in circular paths.

Question 52

Submergent coasts commonly have steep, rocky shorelines.

Question 53

High and low tides occur at the same time every day.

Question 54

The Gulf Stream moves as fast as a person walks.

Question 55

Longshore currents cannot carry sand and sediment for long distances.

Question 56

The salinity of the oceans has been relatively constant throughout geologic time because salt is removed at the same rate at which it has been added.

Question 57

Sea level has risen and fallen repeatedly in the geologic past, and coastlines have emerged and submerged throughout the history of the planet.

Question 58

When the Gulf Stream reaches the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, it sinks to the ocean floor and deflects to become the North Atlantic Deep Water.

Question 59

Eustatic sea-level change occurs because of:

A) the growth or melting of glaciers.
B) changes in the volume of the Mid-Oceanic Ridge.
C) changes in water temperature.
D) all of the above

Question 60

The highest part of a wave is called the trough.