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Oceanography > Exam 2 > Flashcards

Exam 2 Flashcards

1
Q

What drives photosynthesis

A

sunlight

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2
Q

Biologically active means lots of nutrient

A

true

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3
Q

How does the atmospheres move heat and water around

A

through evaporation and condensation

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4
Q

evaporation absorbs or releases heat

A

absorb

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5
Q

condensation absorbs or releases heat

A

releases

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6
Q

Where does weather happen in the atmosphere? (which layer)

A

troposphere
contains 99% of water in the atmosphere
contains 90% of mass in the atmosphere
10km thick

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7
Q

what are the main gases in the atmosphere?

A

nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor

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8
Q

What happens to the pressure in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

A

pressure decreases

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9
Q

What happens to the density in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

A

density decreases

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10
Q

What happens to the temperature in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

A

temperature decreases

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11
Q

What happens to the light in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

A

light increase

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12
Q

What does the water in the atmosphere depend on?

A

The temperature
3% water = warm
2% water = cool
1% water = cold

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13
Q

What is the difference between specific and relative humidity?

A

specific humidity is how much water is actually in the atmosphere where the relative humidity is how saturated the atmosphere is

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14
Q

What is the specific humidity at the poles and the equator?

A

specific humidity is how much water the air can hold and the actual amount of water in the air
0% at the poles
20% at the equator

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15
Q

How do you calculate relative humidity?

A

amount of water present/ max amount of water the air hold

the max that the air can hold depends on temperature

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16
Q

What happens when the air is 100% saturated

A

air can’t hold any more water so you star to turn the water back into water vapor

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17
Q

humidity = water present/ water max

A

1% / 3% water = 33% humidity = warm ** evaporation
1%/ 2% water = 50% humidity = cool
1% / 1% water = 100% = cold ** clouds and rain

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18
Q

What happens to the humidity in the atmosphere when you go up in elevation

A

increase with height because temperature is decreasing

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19
Q

What is the Coriolis effect?

A

The planet is spinning and the planet is round
At the poles the earth is moving hardly at all
At the equator the earth is moving really fast
the difference between the movement at the poles and equator is the Coriolis effect

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20
Q

What direction is the Coriolis deflection in the northern hemisphere

A

right

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21
Q

What direction is the Coriolis deflection in the southern hemisphere

A

left

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22
Q

What are three global wind patterns

A

westerlies, easterlies, polar easterlies

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23
Q

Describe the polar easterlies

A

seasonal weak winds that blow from east to west
located above 60 north and below 60 south
at 60 north and south it is cold and wet and above at the poles is cold and dry

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24
Q

Describe the easterlies

A

weak to moderate winds that blow east to west
located between equator and 30 north and south
equator is warm wet
30 north and south is warm dry

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25
Q

Describe the westerlies

A

strongest winds and they blow from west to east
located between 30 and 60 north and south
30 north and south is warm dry
and 60 north south is cold wet

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26
Q

Does rising air lead to rain

A

yes, rising air = increased humidity = rain

the equator always warm so you always have rising air and therefore lots of rain

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27
Q

Why is descending air dry

A

because of decreasing humidity

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28
Q

What are the 5 deserts

A

Sonora desert: located in AZ
Sandra desert: located in northern africa
Gobi desert: located in Russia
Victoria Simpson: located in Australia
Kalahan desert: located in southern africa
Alacama desert: located in south America

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29
Q

What is the difference between climate and weather

A

climate is what you expect and weather is what you get

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30
Q

what is the difference between high and low pressure

A

high pressure is descending air: heat, dry, forest fires

low pressure is rising air; rainy

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31
Q

Do winds blow from high to low pressure or low to high pressure

A

high to low pressure

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32
Q

What drives the ocean

A

the wind

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33
Q

what are the five ocean gyres (surface current)

A

North pacific, south pacific, north Atlantic, south Atlantic, Indian
there’s no north Indian because India is in the way

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34
Q

how to winds move water around

A

winds push warm water to the west and cold water to the east
surface currents cause east/ west coast climate differences: west side is cold water currents and east side is warm water currents

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35
Q

what are characteristics of cold water currents

A

low evaporation, low humidity and low rain fall

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36
Q

what are characteristics of warm water currents

A

high evaporation, high humidity and high rain fall

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37
Q

Do winds keep sea water well mixed

A

yes because there are no major differences in water salinity. Gyres are the saltiest because there is less rain

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38
Q

How do surface currents transport heat?

A
  1. sun warms water
  2. wind belts drive currents
  3. currents run into continents and turn
  4. warm water carried poleward and releases heat
    * helps with migration of plants and animas
    * transports 10% of heat
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39
Q

Name the 10 currents that line the five ocean gyres

A 
North Atlantic: 
gulf stream - warm water current, east
candry - cold, west
South Atlantic: 
brazil warm east
benguela west cold 
Indian 
agyinas warm east 
leewin cold west
South Pacific
east Australian east, warm 
Peru west cold
North Pacific 
Kuroshio warm east
California cold west
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40
Q

what drives wave formation

A

wind

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41
Q

wave speed vs wind speed

A

wave speed = 0.57 * wind speed

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42
Q

wind speed vs wave height

A

grows slowly at first but once it reaches a couple of feet high then it grows really fast

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43
Q

what is the fully developed sea curve

A

the maximum wave height that can be produced by a given wind speed only reached if blown over sufficient fetch for a sufficient duration

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44
Q

what are differences between west coast and east coast waves

A

west coast: inward prevailing wind , narrow shelf and steep slope
east coast: outward prevailing winds, broader shelf, and gradual slope

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45
Q

How fast do wave sets move compared to an individual wave

A

sets move at half the speed of an individual wave

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46
Q

what is longshore transport

A

the net transport of sand and water as waves come in

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47
Q

What is the direction of longshore transport

A

toward the equator

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48
Q

East coast vs west coast beaches

A

East coast: large sloping shelf, no subduction zones, and therefore you have big wide gentle beaches

west coast: steeper shelf, subduction zones, more erosion, and therefore rocky beaches

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49
Q

how do the westerlies blow wind onto the shore on each coast

A

East Coast: offshore winds

West Coast: on shore winds

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50
Q

What are some characteristics of upwelling

A 
cold water at surface
higher nutrients
higher productivity 
good fishing 
offshore wind
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51
Q

What are some characteristics of downwelling

A 
warm water
low nutrients
low productivity
poor fishing 
onshore wind
52
Q

What coast is upwelling on in the westerlies and easterlies

A

westerlies: east coast
easterlies: east coast

53
Q

What coast is downwelling on in the westerlies and easterlies

A

westerlies: west coast
easterlies: west coast

54
Q

equatorial upwelling is caused by what

A

the Coriolis effect

upwelling from 200 meters down

55
Q

how deep is southern ocean upwelling

A

2000 meters

56
Q

what are the three roles the southern ocean has on climate change?

A
  1. accounts for 67 -98% of excess heat that goes into atmosphere
  2. accounts for up to 50% of anthropologic carbon dioxide in atmosphere
  3. vertical exchange is responsible for supplying nutrients for 3/4 all biological production in the ocean north of 30S
57
Q

why is southern ocean so important

A

window in the deep ocean

direct upwelling from deep ocean

58
Q

What is global warming really

A

ocean warming
energy excess is mostly in the ocean
deep ocean and surface ocean have accumulated 93% of the energy balance from the top of the ocean

59
Q

what is the NADW

A

north Atlantic deep waters forms in the north and on top of the AABW

60
Q

what is the AABW

A

Antarctic bottom water forms in the south and is below the NADW

61
Q

what does ocean density depend on

A

temperature and salinity

62
Q

under what conditions does water sink at

A

cold or salty

63
Q

under what conditions does water floats at

A

warm and fresh

64
Q

is sea ice salty

A

no

65
Q

in the winter is the water saltier or fresher

A

saltier because ice is growing and the ice has not salt in it

66
Q

in the summer is the water saltier or fresher

A

fresher because ice is melting

67
Q

what is the el nino

A

coupled phenomenon of the tropical pacific… needs the atmosphere and the ocean

68
Q

what are normal conditions (no an el nino or la nina)

A 
moderate easterlies
warm ocean in west 
cool ocean in the east
rain in west (indo/Australia )
dry in the east (peru)
69
Q

what are conditions of an el nino

A

** occurs when the easterlies fail
** occurs every 3 t o7 years
weak easterlies
warm ocean in the east
rain follows heat
dry in the west (indo/ australia)
wet in the east (peru)

70
Q

what are conditions of a la nina

A 
stronger easterlies
colder ocean in the east 
rain follows heat 
iextra wet in the west (indo/ Australia)
extra dry in the east ( Peru)
71
Q

Is Tuscon wet or dry during an el nino winter

A

wet

72
Q

are ocean temperatures higher or lower during an el nino and a la nina

A

el nino: warmer than normal

la nina: colder than normal

73
Q

are hurricanes high or low pressure systems

A

low pressure

74
Q

what is needed to form a hurricane ( water temp, wind speed, location, pressure)

A

warm water (> 79 F)
wind speed (> 74 mph)
low pressure system
form right off the equator so they can spin (spin is based on Coriolis effect)

75
Q

where are the fastest winds in a hurricane

A

eye wall

76
Q

hurricane are formed over what body of water

A

Atlantic

77
Q

typhoon are formed over what body of water

A

pacific

78
Q

cyclone are formed over what body of water

A

Indian

79
Q

how do hurricanes weaken

A

over land or cold water

80
Q

The fastest mean surface winds on earth are in the:

Question options:

A) northern hemisphere westerlies
B) polar easterlies
C) tropical easterlies
D) southern hemisphere westerlies

A

southern hemisphere westerlies

81
Q

There are rain forests on Earth at the Equator because

Question options:

a) The coriolis force is zero there
b) Air is rising there
c) There is indirect heating there
d) Air is sinking there

A

b) Air is rising there

82
Q

There are deserts on earth at 30N and 30S due to:

Question options:
A) sinking air masses
B) the strong westerly winds there
C) rising air masses
D) the coriolis force
A

A) sinking air masses

83
Q

As a parcel of air moves upward, the relative humidity will:
Question options:
A) decrease because the temperature decreases
B) decrease because the temperature increases
C) increase because the temperature decreases
D) increase because the temperature increases

A

A) decrease because the temperature decreases

84
Q 
Wind-drive surface currents are import for:
Question options:
A) mixing the ocean
B) heat transport
C) east/west climate difference
D) all of these
A

D) all of these

85
Q 
Ocean surface currents generally flow:
Question options:
a) In a random direction relative to the wind
b) In the same direction as the wind
c) In the opposite direction as the wind
A

b) In the same direction as the wind

86
Q 
High pressure (H) on a weather map generally indicates:
Question options:
A) rising air
B) rain
C) clear skies
D) a hurricane
A

C) clear skies

87
Q 
When water evaporates:
Question options:
Winds increase speed
Humidity decreases
Heat is absorbed
Heat is released
A

Heat is absorbed

88
Q

Deserts occur on the west sides of continents due to:
Question options:
A) The temperature of nearby ocean currents
B) The Coriolis force
C)The salinity of nearby ocean current
D) Rising air there

A

A) The temperature of nearby ocean currents

89
Q

Waves travel across the ocean in sets - how fast does a set of waves move?
Question options:
a) At the same speed as an individual wave
b) At exactly 1.63 m/s
c) Twice as fast as an individual wave
d) Half as fast as an individual wave

A

d) Half as fast as an individual wave

90
Q

All of the following are true about waves above the FDS curve, except:
Question options:
A) These waves were generated elsewhere
B) These waves are growing rapidly
C) The waves are big and the wind is small
D) These conditions are good for surfing

A

B) These waves are growing rapidly

91
Q

Fetch is defined as:
Question options:
A) The amount of time the winds are blowing
B) The area over which the winds are blowing
C) The speed at which the winds blow
D) The distance between successive waves

A

B) The area over which the winds are blowing

92
Q 
Compared to the wind speed, the waves generated by those winds travel
Question options:
A) About half as fast
B) The same speed
C) About twice as fast
D) There is no simple relations
A

A) About half as fast

93
Q

50-foot waves are rare because:
Question options:
A) 50-foot waves are actually very common
B) There are few locations with enough fetch
C) Waves decay too rapidly
D) The wind rarely blows hard enough

A

B) There are few locations with enough fetch

94
Q

Longshore transport generally moves sand:
Question options:
A)Toward the equator
B) Toward the pole
C) Up the beach face
D) In the same direction as the wind-driven current

A

A)Toward the equator

95
Q

Over time, a curved coastline will become:

Question options:
A) More curved as sediment is transported from the bays to the points
B) Rockier as all the sand is removed
C) Sandier as sand is brought up from deep water
D) Straighter as headlands are eroded and bays are filled in with sand

A

D) Straighter as headlands are eroded and bays are filled in with sand

96
Q 
When waves come onshore, they:
Question options:
A) Slow down
B) Turn to the right in the Northern Hemisphere
C) Stay the same speed
D) Speed up
A

A) Slow down

97
Q

Longshore Transport is an important part of the Sediment Cycle
Question options:
a) True
b) False

A

a) True

98
Q

A wind that blows from west to east is called a ____________.
Question options:
A) Trade Wind
B) Depends on which hemisphere you are in due to the Coriolis Force
C) Easterly
D) Westerly

A

D) Westerly

99
Q 
Southern Ocean upwelling is most active:
Question options
When the westerlies fail
During the summer
All year long - the winds are strong and never fail
During the winter
A

All year long - the winds are strong and never fail

100
Q 
Coastal Upwelling is associated with:
Question options:
A) Offshore winds and high productivity
B) Offshore winds and low productivity
C) Onshore winds and low productivity
D) Onshore winds and high productivity
A

A) Offshore winds and high productivity

101
Q 
An onshore wind leads to which conditions on the coast?
Question options:
A) Warm water and low nutrients
B) Warm water and high nutrients
C) Cold water and high nutrients
D) Cold water and low nutrients
A

A) Warm water and low nutrients

102
Q

Higher productivity is generally associated with ___________.
Question options:
A) Downwelling
B) There is no clear relation between high productivity and upwelling or downwelling - it depends on where you are
C) Upwelling

A

C) Upwelling

103
Q

Equatorial upwelling occurs
Question options:
A) Due to the westerlies and the coriolis force
B) Due to the easterlies and the coriolis force
C) Only during winter
D) down to the ocean bottom

A

B) Due to the easterlies and the coriolis force

104
Q 
Sea ice formation makes the ocean:
Question options:
A) Saltier
B) Colder
C) Less dense
D) Fresher
A

A) Saltier

105
Q 
Offshore winds lead to \_\_\_\_\_ along the coast.
Question options:
A) Low productivity
B) Cold water
C) Low Nutrients
D) High salinity
A

B) Cold water

106
Q 
Southern Ocean upwelling brings up water from:
Question options:
A) The bottom
B) 2000m
C) 200m
D) 100m
A

B) 2000m

107
Q 
How much of the anthropogenic heat does the Southern Ocean take up?
Question options:
a) 67-98%
b) 30-43%
c) 8-12%
d) < 3%
A

a) 67-98%

108
Q 
El Nino events occur every:
Question options:
A) Winter
B) 20 years
C) 10 years
D) 3-7 years
A

D) 3-7 years

109
Q 
Hurricanes form over water that is very \_\_\_\_\_\_?
Question options:
A) Cold
B) Fresh
C)Warm
D) Salty
A

C)Warm

110
Q

Which of the following is NOT associated with El Nino conditions:
Question options:
A) Warm water off the coast of Peru
B) Stronger than normal easterlies in the tropics
C) Rainy conditions in Peru
D) Drought over Indonesia

A

B) Stronger than normal easterlies in the tropics

111
Q 
During El Niño years, winters in Tucson are:
Question options:
a) Colder
b) Warmer
c) Wetter
d) Drier
A

c) Wetter

112
Q

Which of these is NOT true about hurricanes?
Question options:
A) The have wind speeds in excess of 74 mph
B) They get stronger over land
C) They spin counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere
D) They are called TYPHOONs in the Pacific

A

B) They get stronger over land

113
Q

Tsunami are different from wind waves because:
Question options:
A) In wind waves, the energy moves through the water, but the water itself only moves in circles. In a tsunami, all of the water is moving in the direction of the wave
B) Tsunami always flow into the wind
C) Tsnuami slow down when they reach the coast
D) Tsunami waves travel more slowly

A

A) In wind waves, the energy moves through the water, but the water itself only moves in circles. In a tsunami, all of the water is moving in the direction of the wave

114
Q 
All of these can cause a tsunami, but most tsunami are caused by:
Question options:
A) Undersea landslides
B) Meteorite impacts
C) Large subduction zone earthquakes
D) Underwater volcanoes
A

C) Large subduction zone earthquakes

115
Q

The biggeest tidal range each month:
Question options:
A) Are called tidal waves
B) Are called neap tides
C) Happens when the sun and moon are at right angles to the earth
D) Happens when the sun, earth and moon are in a line

A

D) Happens when the sun, earth and moon are in a line

116
Q

Tides are caused by:
Question options:
A) The gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun
B) The fact that the earth is spinning
C) The gravitational pull of the sun only
D) The gravitational pull of the moon only

A

A) The gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun

117
Q 
Most tsunami occur in the:
Question options:
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Southern Ocean
Arctic Ocean
A

Pacific Ocean

118
Q 
Which is NOT true in the ocean?
Question options:
a) Light decreases with depth
b) Pressure increases with depth
c) Productivity decreases with depth
d) Temperature increases with depth
A

d) Temperature increases with depth

119
Q 
The layer of the atmosphere closest to the ground is called the:
Question options:
A) Troposphere
B) Hydrosphere
C) Stratosphere
D) Groundosphere
A

A) Troposphere

120
Q 
Deserts are on the west sides of continents due to:
Question options:
A) Cold ocean currents nearby
B) Warm ocean currents nearby
C) Air masses rising
D) Salty ocean currents nearby
A

A) Cold ocean currents nearby

121
Q 
Ocean gyres are important for:
Question options:
a) mixing oceans
b) heat transport
c) east/west climate differences
d) all of these
A

d) all of these

122
Q 
As air moves up a mountain:
Question options:
a) the temperature increases
b) the pressure increases
c) the humidity increases
d) all of these are true
A

c) the humidity increases

123
Q 
The ozone layer is in the:
Question options:
a) Photic Zone
b) Troposphere
c) Dark Zone
d) Stratosphere
A

b) Troposphere

124
Q 
An offshore wind leads to:
Question options:
a) longshore current
b) warm water along the coast
c) upwelling
d) downwelling
A

c) upwelling

125
Q 
Which always makes seawater less salty?
Question options:
a) Forming sea ice
b) Evaporation
c) Downwelling
d) Melting sea ice
A

d) Melting sea ice

126
Q

As the wind speed increases, the wave height:
Question options:
A) Grows instantly to its maximum height
B) Increases smoothly and evenly
C) Increases slowly at first and then more rapidly

A

C) Increases slowly at first and then more rapidly

Oceanography (2 decks)

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