Question 1

The Gulf Stream moves water away from the equator;the Benguela Current moves some of this same water back toward the equator.

Accepted Answer

The Gulf Stream moves warm water from the tropics toward the poles, while the Benguela Current moves cold water from the poles toward the equator. Therefore, the Benguela Current does not move the same water back toward the equator as the Gulf Stream.

Question 2

The most dense ocean water is North Atlantic Deep Water.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 3

Downwelling may be the result of winds blowing parallel to a coastline.

Accepted Answer

When winds blow parallel to a coastline, they can cause surface waters to move away from the shore, allowing deeper, nutrient-rich waters to rise to the surface in a process known as upwelling. The opposite process, downwelling, occurs when surface waters near the coast move back towards the shoreline, displacing deeper waters and creating a downward movement of ocean water. This process can also occur in other circumstances such as when surface waters become denser due to cooling or salinity changes.

Question 4

Thermohaline circulation is wind-driven.

Accepted Answer

Thermohaline circulation is not wind-driven. It is driven by differences in water density, which are influenced by temperature and salinity, and is mainly caused by variations in surface water density due to cooling at high latitudes and the formation of sea ice.

Question 5

The unit of measurement used to describe the rate at which a volume of ocean water moves in a current is a(n): A)calorie. B)ft/s^2. C)km/h. D)ml/g. E)sverdrup.

Accepted Answer

The unit of measurement commonly used to describe the rate of ocean currents is the Sverdrup (Sv), named after the Norwegian oceanographer Harald Sverdrup. One Sverdrup is equal to one million cubic meters per second. This unit is commonly used in oceanography as it allows for a standardized measurement of the volume of water flowing in a current. None of the other units listed are generally used to describe ocean current velocity.

Question 6

The Mediterranean Sea has little influence on the water of the Atlantic Ocean.

Accepted Answer

The Mediterranean Sea has a significant influence on the water of the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the eastern Atlantic where a strong current, the Mediterranean Outflow, carries Mediterranean water westward into the North Atlantic. This current is important for the transportation of heat and salt, and can affect the ocean's circulation patterns.

Question 7

In the northern hemisphere,Ekman transport pushes surface water to the right of the wind direction.

Accepted Answer

This is known as the Ekman Spiral, and it occurs due to the Coriolis effect. In the southern hemisphere, surface water is pushed to the left of the wind direction.

Question 8

Dynamic topography can be used to compute current direction and velocity.

Accepted Answer

Dynamic topography is a measure of the sea surface height relative to an established geoid. By analyzing changes in dynamic topography, oceanographers can determine the direction and speed of ocean currents. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 9

The source of some deep ocean water masses can be identified by the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water mass.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The amount of dissolved oxygen can vary depending on where the water mass originated and its age. For example, deep waters formed near the surface in polar regions are typically rich in oxygen due to their exposure to the atmosphere, while deep waters formed in warmer regions may have lower oxygen concentrations. By analyzing the oxygen levels in different water masses, researchers can identify their sources and track their movement throughout the ocean.

Question 10

An eastern boundary current is narrow and swift.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An eastern boundary current is narrow and...

Question 11

All deep water in ocean basins originates in the Atlantic Ocean.

Accepted Answer

The answer of All deep water in ocean basins originates...

Question 12

The largest current by volume in the oceans is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

Accepted Answer

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, also known as the West Wind Drift, is the largest and strongest ocean current in the world by volume, flowing eastward around Antarctica.

Question 13

Deep ocean water does not travel across the equator.

Accepted Answer

Deep ocean currents, part of the thermohaline circulation, can and do travel across the equator, connecting the world's oceans in a global conveyor belt of water movement.

Question 14

Surface ocean circulation is driven primarily by _______ and modified by ________.
A)density differences;the Coriolis effect and land
B)density differences;differences in salinity and temperature
C)latitude;differences in salinity and land
D)wind;the Coriolis effect and land
E)wind;gravity and density

Accepted Answer

Surface ocean circulation is primarily driven by wind, which exerts a force on the surface of the ocean. This creates surface currents, which are then modified by the Coriolis effect (caused by the Earth's rotation) and the presence of land masses.

Question 15

Equatorial currents are driven by the:
A)Coriolis force.
B)density.
C)Ekman transport.
D)trade winds.
E)westerlies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Equatorial currents are driven by the:
A)Coriolis force.
B)density.
C)Ekman...

Question 16

Deep ocean currents often move cold,dense water away from the poles.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Deep ocean currents, also known as thermohaline currents, are driven by differences in water density caused by differences in temperature and salinity. Cold, dense water sinks and flows towards the equator, while warmer, less dense water rises and flows towards the poles. This helps to distribute heat and nutrients throughout the ocean and plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate.

Question 17

The circular pattern of surface water currents is called a gyre.

Accepted Answer

The circular pattern of surface water currents is indeed called a gyre.

Question 18

Deep ocean water masses have characteristic temperatures and salinities.

Accepted Answer

Deep ocean water masses do have characteristic temperatures and salinities, which vary depending on factors such as depth, location, and ocean currents. These properties are important in regulating global climate and ocean circulation.

Question 19

Compared to an eastern boundary current in a gyre,which of the following statements is true for a western boundary current?
A)deeper current
B)increased current velocity
C)intensification in subtropical latitudes
D)narrower current
E)All of the above statements are true of western boundary currents.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compared to an eastern boundary current in...

Question 20

Surface waters are pushed away from land and replaced by nutrient-rich bottom water through:
A)convergence.
B)downwelling.
C)land breezes.
D)sea breezes.
E)upwelling.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Surface waters are pushed away from land...

Quiz 7: Ocean Circulation