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Question 1

Coreolis force

Answer 1

Wind deflection due to global rotation.

Surface layer moves 45° to the wind direction (deflection to the right in the northern hemisphere).

Question 2

The Ekman spiral

Answer 2

This deflection increases by depth, creating a spiral current.

Question 3

Downwelling process

Answer 3

The surface water cools down, the density increases and it sinks.

The Antarctic Atlantic Bottom Water (AABW) and North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW).

(A water molecule remains in the deep currents for 275 years in the Atlantic, 250 in the Indian Ocean and 510 in the Pacific).

Question 4

Upwelling process

Answer 4

Upwelling takes place where surface water is forced away from steep continental edges and becomes refilled from beneath (eg Peru and Chilean coasts).

Question 5

The coastal zone

Answer 5

Supports the highest biodiversity of marine habitats.

Question 6

The continental shelf and slope

Answer 6

Makes a recipient for material from land.

Spontane slides can occur on slopes of 2°.

Question 7

Ocean ridges

Answer 7

33 % of the ocean floor.

As the continental plates separate, new bottom is produced at these sites. The Atlantic so growing 2-4 cm/year.

Question 8

The deep sea floor or the abyssal plain

Answer 8

80 % of the total seas.
3000-6000 depth.

Consists of sea hills, sea mounts, ridges and trenches.
Most of the abyssal bottom is covered by pelagic sediments (so called oozes) made of diatoms, foramineferas and radiolarians.

Question 9

Water stratifications

Answer 9

Occurs when water masses with different densities, salinity (halocline), temperature (thermocline) - form layers that act as barriers to water mixing that often may lead to hypoxic - or even anoxic bottoms.

Hypoxic - low oxygen
Anoxic - no oxygen

Question 10

Carbonate compensation depth

Answer 10

Also called CCD.

The solubility of CaCO3 increases with depth as temp falls and pressure increases.
4000-6000 m.

CaCO3 - calcium carbonate