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oceanography > ch 7 ocean currents > Flashcards

ch 7 ocean currents Flashcards

1
Q

Which method would be most appropriate for directly measuring the flow rate of the Gulf Stream?

A

drift bottles. Drift or float bottles can be released into a current and tracked through time.

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2
Q

Which of the following methods are used to measure deep ocean currents directly?

A

Free-drifting Argo floats

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3
Q

Deep ocean currents are driven primarily by ________ .

A

density differences

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4
Q

Which swift-flowing surface current in a major subtropical gyre transports a large volume of warm water from the equator toward mid-latitudes?

A

Kuroshio Current. Western boundary currents are responsible for the mass transport of warm water toward the poles. The Kuroshio Current is the western boundary current in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.

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5
Q

Surface ocean currents are driven primarily by ________ and modified by ________.

A

wind; the Coriolis effect and land

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6
Q

Surface currents form circular patterns in the major ocean basins called _____

A

gyres

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7
Q

Equatorial currents are driven by the:

A

trade winds

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8
Q

Compared to an eastern boundary current in a gyre, what statements are true for a western boundary current?

A

narrower current
warmer water
deeper current
increased current velocity

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9
Q

Which of the following is a western boundary current?

A

Brazil Current

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10
Q

Compared to western boundary currents, eastern boundary currents are:

A

broad and slow

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11
Q

Which of the following is not an eastern boundary current?

A

Gulf Stream

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12
Q

Which type of current flow moves in a circular path around a subtropical convergence, reflecting Ekman transport, gravity, and the Coriolis effect?

A

geostrophic circulation

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13
Q

the Ekman spiral is caused by

A

wind and the Coriolis effect

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14
Q

In the southern hemisphere, the direction of Ekman transport is always:

A

to the left of the wind direction

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15
Q

Western intensification causes:

A

a large volume of water to flow within western boundary currents.
the center of the gyre to be shift to the west.
very swift western boundary currents.
a steeper slope of surface water in the western section of the gyre as compared to the eastern section of the gyre

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16
Q

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

West Australian Current
Canary Current
Agulhas Current
California Current
Benguela Current
A

Agulhas Current

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17
Q

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

Gulf Stream
Peru Current
Kuroshio Current
North Equatorial Current
Somali Current
A

Peru Current

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18
Q

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

California Current
North Atlantic Current
North Equatorial Current
Canary Current
Gulf Stream
A

California CUrrent

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19
Q

Cold currents flowing ________ on the ________ sides of continents produce arid conditions.

A

toward the equator; western

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20
Q

Warm currents flowing ________ on the ________ sides of continents produce warm, humid conditions.

A

poleward; eastern

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21
Q

Deep-water currents move ________ volumes of water and are much ________ than surface currents.

A

larger; slower

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22
Q

An increase in seawater density can be caused by a ________ in temperature or a/an ________ in salinity.

A

decrease; increase

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23
Q

The Gulf Stream is an example of which of the following types of currents?

A

WEstern Boundary CUrrent

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24
Q

The Peru (Humboldt) Current is an example of which of the following types of currents?

A

Eastern Boudary Current

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25
Q

The West Wind Drift is an example of which of the following types of currents?

A

Southern Boundary Current

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26
Q

The South Equatorial Current is an example of which of the following types of currents?

A

Equatorial Current

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27
Q

The observation that ships and icebergs in the southern hemisphere float to the left of the wind direction is an example of which of the following?

A

Ekman transport

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28
Q

Coastal winds can cause upwelling or downwelling due to which of the following?

A

Ekman transport

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29
Q

Which of the following currents contributes to the South Eastern United States being humid?

A

Gulf Stream

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30
Q

Which of the following currents contributes to the South Western United States being arid?

A

California Current

31
Q

statements about subtropical gyres

A

The centers of all subtropical gyres are associated with high atmospheric pressure.
There are four main surface currents in each subtropical gyre.
Globally, there are five subtropical gyres.
The western boundary current of all subtropical gyres is intensified (it is fast, narrow, and deep).
The rotation of each subtropical gyre causes a “hill” of water to pile up within it.

32
Q

which surface currents transport large volumes of warm water to higher latitudes?

A

Brazil Current, the Gulf Stream, Kuroshio Current

33
Q

true statements about Ekman spiral and Ekman transport

A

Ekman transport can result in both upwelling and downwelling.
In the deeper layers of the Ekman spiral, water can move in a direction opposite of the wind direction.
The Coriolis effect causes surface waters to move at an angle relative to the wind direction.
Ekman transport is to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere.

34
Q

downwelling

A

movement of water from the top to the bottom of the water column

35
Q

Geostrophic current

A

water flow driven by gravity and modified by the Coriolis effect

36
Q

upwelling

A

movement of water from the bottom to the top of the water column

37
Q

Ekman transport`

A

net water movement to the left or right of the direction of the wind

38
Q

Diverging surface waters are areas of ________ and ________ productivity.

A

upwelling; high

39
Q

Surface waters are pushed away from land and replaced by nutrient-rich bottom water through:

A

upwelling

40
Q

Converging surface waters are areas of ________ and ________ productivity.

A

downwelling; low

41
Q

where would upwelling be expected to occur?

A

Where there is a sharp bend in a coastline
Where seamounts or tablemounts are present
In areas of diverging surface currents

42
Q

In a severe warm phase, fisheries’ productivity on the west coasts of the Americas is dramatically reduced. Which stage of ENSO would come just before this fisheries collapse?

A

The thermocline deepens in eastern boundary currents of the Pacific Ocean subtropical gyres.
The last developmental stage of an ENSO warm phase prevents upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water that normally supports the growth of the algae (phytoplankton), which fishes such as sardines and anchovies feed upon.

43
Q

the thermocline is

A

a steep temperature gradient in the ocean that separates deeper cold water from warmer upper water

44
Q

What is the Walker Circulation Cell?

A

It is the path that air takes as it moves from high to low pressure, and back to high pressure, in the South Pacific under normal conditions.

45
Q

Why does upwelling occur along the west coast of South America under normal conditions?

A

Winds moving westward in the South Pacific drive ocean currents toward the west; deep water rises to replace water driven westward.

46
Q

What would you expect weather to be like on the eastern coast of Australia if the western coast of South America were experiencing unusually warm, wet weather?

A

The eastern coast of Australia would be experiencing unusually dry weather.

47
Q

Which direction do ocean currents in the South Pacific move under El Niño conditions?

A

eastward

48
Q

What is the Southern Oscillation?

A

the swapping of high and low pressure zones in the South Pacific under El Niño conditions

49
Q

What is the overall effect of the stronger than normal trade winds typical of La Niña conditions?

A

lowering of the South Pacific ocean temperature from normal conditions

50
Q

Under which conditions are droughts and wildfires common in Australia?

A

Under El Nino conditions

51
Q
  1. Palm trees associated with the subtropics can be found at the northern tip of the British Isles in Scotland. This is due to the transfer of heat from the_______________.
A

North Atlantic Current

52
Q

___________ is caused by density changes near the poles and equator.

A

Thermohaline circulation

53
Q
  1. Waters along the California coast are colder than those along the mid-Atlantic shore of the U.S. because _____________occurs as surface waters move away from the coast.
A

coastal upwelling

54
Q
  1. Freezing seawater at ____________ leads to increases in salinity and density.
A

high latitudes

55
Q

conditions related to strong EL Nino events

A

Higher sea levels in the eastern Pacific Ocean associated with warmer water
Increased abundance of hurricanes in the eastern Pacific Ocean
Increase in sea surface temperatures and destruction of coral reefs in the eastern Pacific Ocean

56
Q

Which of the following is the only current that completely circumscribes Earth?

A

Antarctic Circumpolar

57
Q

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

Australian drought
decreased fish stock in coastal Peru
Peruvian upwelling stops
strong trade winds
flooding rains in southeastern United States
A

strong trade winds

58
Q

The El Niño Southern Oscillation can best be described as:

A

the relationship between sea surface temperature and changing atmospheric pressure.

59
Q

During winter months, monsoon winds over the Indian Ocean:

A

flow from land to sea and are dry

60
Q

The deepest and densest water mass in the world ocean is formed in the __________________.

A

Southern Ocean. Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) forms and sinks as winter freezing produces very cold, briny or salty water.

61
Q

A large system of rotating ocean currents, usually driven by the major wind belts, is called a(n) __________.

A

gyres

62
Q

The current in the northwestern part of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre that transports warm water toward the North Atlantic is called the __________.

A

The Gulf Stream

63
Q

The loss of heat from the ocean surface, resulting in a lowered temperature, causes ocean water to become __________.

A

denser

64
Q

A deep and powerful southward subsurface current that flows under the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic is the __________.

A

North Atlantic Deep Water

65
Q

Thermohaline circulation in the ocean is driven primarily by differences in __________ and __________ among water masses.

A

temperature; salinity

66
Q

Which force(s) drive(s) water circulation in the deep ocean?

A

differences in water density, salinity, and temperature.

67
Q

Why is Antarctic Bottom Water so dense?

A

It is cold and salty.

68
Q

Which process causes downwelling off the coast of Antarctica?

A

ice formation

69
Q

Thermohaline circulation is driven by:

A

density differences

70
Q

Compared to Antarctic Bottom Water, North Atlantic Deep Water is ________.

A

higher in salinity

71
Q

Deep-water circulation brings oxygen from the surface to the deep ocean because of:

A

greater dissolution of oxygen in colder water than warmer water.

72
Q

Records indicate that the ocean is warming faster in the Arctic polar regions than elsewhere. If that continues, a possible consequence could be __________.

A

slowing of deep ocean circulation, resulting in lower oxygen levels in deep water

73
Q

the slowing of deep ocean circulation, resulting in lower oxygen levels in deep water, is a concern for ocean and climate scientists for what reasons?

A

This is a concern of ocean and climate scientists for two reasons. Warming of the Arctic is causing glacial ice on the land areas to melt and increase fresh water flow into the ocean. Fresh water, being less dense, resists sinking. In addition (even if there were no change in salinity), warmer seawater does not sink as readily as cold water to feed the deep-water circulation, so the “conveyor belt” may slow down. The warmer water would contain less dissolved oxygen, which could limit the amount of animal life in both the deep ocean and in surface areas where deep ocean water upwells.

74
Q

statements about deep-ocean currents

A

Deep-ocean currents contain water with high oxygen concentrations.
Deep-ocean currents are initiated near Antarctica and in the North Atlantic Ocean, where cold, dense water sinks.
Deep-ocean currents transport a volume of water equal to that of 100 Amazon-size rivers.
Deep-ocean currents are important regulators of global climate.
Deep-ocean circulation is referred to as thermohaline flow.

oceanography (9 decks)

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