Question 1

One of the major difficulties working against sustainable human use of the oceans is _______.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

Researchers from Oxford University recently discovered a new zone in the ocean off the coast of Bermuda called the ________.

Accepted Answer

The rariphotic zone is a newly discovered oceanic zone located off the coast of Bermuda, identified by researchers from Oxford University.

Question 3

Generally, nutrient concentrations ________ with depth because of the decomposition of organisms falling from the surface layer.

Accepted Answer

Nutrient concentrations generally increase with depth due to the decomposition of organic matter from dead organisms sinking from the surface, releasing nutrients into deeper waters.

Question 4

The oceans cover more than _________ of the Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

The oceans cover more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface, making them the largest habitat on the planet.

Question 5

Marine ecosystems provide many goods and services to humans, including ________.

Accepted Answer

Marine ecosystems offer transportation routes, play crucial roles in global cycles and energy flows, and provide food and medicinal products.

Question 6

The world's oceans account for ________ of global primary productivity.

Accepted Answer

The world's oceans account for approximately 50% of global primary productivity, as they are vast and contain numerous phytoplankton that contribute significantly to the Earth's photosynthesis.

Question 7

On land, water availability is the most common limiting factor for life; in oceans, it is ________.

Accepted Answer

In oceans, nutrients are often the limiting factor for life because they are required for the growth of phytoplankton, which forms the base of the marine food web.

Question 8

Oceanic productivity typically ________ with depth.

Accepted Answer

Oceanic productivity typically decreases with depth due to the reduction in sunlight, which is essential for photosynthesis in phytoplankton, the primary producers in the ocean.

Question 9

The most productive ocean areas are ________.

Accepted Answer

Coastal zones and zones of upwelling are the most productive ocean areas due to nutrient availability and sunlight.

Question 10

A thermocline is ________.

Accepted Answer

A thermocline is a distinct layer in a body of water, such as an ocean or lake, where the temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below.

Question 11

The deepest part of the ocean is ________ deep.

Accepted Answer

The deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, is over 10,000 meters deep, specifically around 10,994 meters (36,070 feet) at its deepest point, known as the Challenger Deep.

Question 12

Over three quarters of the ocean is ________ deep.

Accepted Answer

Over three quarters of the ocean is 4,000 to 6,000 metres deep, which corresponds to the abyssal plains, the most extensive part of the ocean floor.

Question 13

Currently, oceans are about _______ more acidic compared to pre-industrial times.

Accepted Answer

Oceans are approximately 30% more acidic compared to pre-industrial times due to increased carbon dioxide absorption from the atmosphere.

Question 14

Oceans absorb ________ of anthropocentric carbon dioxide emissions.

Accepted Answer

Oceans absorb approximately one-third of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, helping to mitigate the impact of these emissions on the atmosphere.

Question 15

Oceanic waters will absorb carbon if and when ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Oceanic waters will absorb carbon if and...

Question 16

Since 1750, about half of the anthropocentric CO₂ emissions released between 1750 and 2011 have occurred in the past ______.

Accepted Answer

The rapid industrialization and increased fossil fuel consumption since the mid-20th century have led to a significant rise in CO2 emissions, with about half of the emissions since 1750 occurring in the past 40 years.

Question 17

Coral bleaching refers to a process whereby ________.

Accepted Answer

Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the zooxanthellae algae living in their tissues, usually due to stress from warmer water temperatures, leading to a loss of color and vital nutrients.

Question 18

Coral reefs ________.

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are threatened by rising temperatures, are composed of calcium carbonate structures, and have experienced widespread bleaching recently.

Question 19

Warm surface water that is cooled at high latitudes and then sinks to deeper basins is part of ________ circulation.

Accepted Answer

Thermohaline circulation refers to the large-scale ocean circulation driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes, involving the sinking of cooled, dense water at high latitudes.

Question 20

This sequence is an example of a positive feedback loop: ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of This sequence is an example of a...

Quiz 9: Oceans and Fisheries