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Oceanography > Final Exam > Flashcards

Final Exam Flashcards

1
Q

What two elements make up one water molecule?

A

Hydrogen and Oxygen

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2
Q

What type of bond is formed between a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom in a water molecule?

A

Covalent Bond

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3
Q

What type of bond is formed between two water molecules?

A

Hydrogen Bond

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4
Q

Why do water molecules form bonds between a hydrogen and oxygen atom?

A

The electrons are shared by atoms forming covalent bonds.

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5
Q

Name one of the two important ocean voyages during the 1800s sponsored by Great Britain. Give the name of the ship and the individual associated with the voyage.

A

HMS Beagle - Charles Darwin

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6
Q

List the four general disciplines of science that are included in the study of the oceans?

A

Biology
Chemistry
Geology
Physics

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7
Q

Name two pieces of ocean sample equipment that you have used and what did it measure

A

Refractometer - Salinity
Thermometer - Temperature

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8
Q

Cohesion

A

Water molecules “stick together”

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9
Q

Adhesion

A

Water molecules “stick” to other surfaces

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10
Q

Universal solvent

A

Hydrophilic compounds, such as polar solutes and ions, love water while hydrophobic ones do not

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11
Q

At what temperature is liquid water the densests

A

~ 4 degrees celcius

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12
Q

Define salinity

A

Salinity is the amount of solute dissolved in a sample of water

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13
Q

In what units is salinity reported?

A

Parts per thousand

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14
Q

What are the 3 constituent ions by concentration found in typical salinity seawater?

A

Chloride
Sodium
Sulfate

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15
Q

What factor has the greatest affect on seawater density?

A

Temperature

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16
Q

Is the relationship between temperature and density direct of opposite?

A

Opposite

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17
Q

Is the relationship between salinity and density direct or opposite?

A

Direct

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18
Q

Name the three factors that determine seawater density

A

Pressure
Salinity
Temperature

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19
Q

What three physical factors are represented in depth profile graphs?

A

Temperature
Salinity
Density

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20
Q

What is the shallowest depth at the top of the “clines”

A

200 meters

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21
Q

What is the deepest depth at the bottom of the “clines”

A

1000 meters

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22
Q

Define density

A

Density refers to the weight or how heavy something is

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23
Q

What units is density reported

A

grams/cm3

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24
Q

What is the photosynthesis equation?

A

6CO2 + 6H2O —–> C6H12O6 + 6O2

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25
Q

Characteristics of an active continental margin and give an example

A

Narrow continental margin
A lot of tectonic activity
Steep slope sometimes w/ deep offshore trenches
ex. West coast of United States

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26
Q

Characteristics of a passive continental margin and give an example

A

Wide continental margin
Gentle / gradual slope
Usually lack tectonic activity
ex. East coast of United States

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27
Q

What is the name of the sediment grain size scale

A

Wentworth Scale of Grain Size

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28
Q

Which specific layer of the Earth’s internal structure is the reservoir for magma?

A

Asthenosphere

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29
Q

In which of the three main marine provinces of the ocean would you find the thinnest layer of accumulated sediments?

A

Abyssal Plains

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30
Q

What is the term for an underwater avalanche of accumulated marine sediments from the shelf break down to the continental rise?

A

Turbidity current

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31
Q

What is the chemical formula for Calcium Carbonate?

A

CaCO3

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32
Q

What two types of crust make up the tectonic plate in Earth’s lithosphere?

A

Oceanic and Continental

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33
Q

What type of rock primarily makes up oceanic crust?

A

Basalt

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34
Q

What type of rock primarily makes up continental crust?

A

Granite

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35
Q

What is the density of oceanic crust?

A

3.0 g/cm3

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36
Q

What is the density of continental crust?

A

2.7 g/cm3

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37
Q

Where does a large amount of sediment accumulate on a passive continental margin?

A

Continental rise

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38
Q

What tectonic plate feature formed and continues to form the Hawaiian islands?

A

Lava erupting from hotspots in the crust

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39
Q

At what depth has particulate calcium carbonate completely dissolved into ocean water?

A

5000 meters

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40
Q

What are the three types of seismic waves?

A

Primary (P) Waves, Secondary (S) Waves, and Surface Waves

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41
Q

What is the outline of the pacific plate referred to as?

A

The Ring of Fire

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42
Q

What are two examples of physical and geological evidence that combine to support this description?

A

Volcanos
Earthquakes

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43
Q

What does the study of plate tectonics involve?

A

How plates interact
How plates are destroyed
How plates are formed

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44
Q

What is tectonics?

A

The large scale processes affecting the structure of the Earth’s crust

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45
Q

List 5 of the plates / plate groupings

A

North American Plate
Pacific Plate
Caribbean Plate
Australian Plate
Arabian Plate

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46
Q

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

A

Divergent
Convergent
Transform

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47
Q

What is a divergent plate boundary?

A

Where two plates move away from each other (Oceanic - Oceanic) or (Continental - Continental)

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48
Q

What is a convergent plate boundary?

A

Where two plates move towards each other; Oceanic crust is denser and go underneath the continental crust (Oceanic - Oceanic) (Continental - Oceanic) (Continental - Continental)

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49
Q

What is a transform boundary?

A

Two plates sliding horizontally past one another creating fault lines

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50
Q

What do seismic waves help to determine?

A

Location and thickness of plate
Some properties of Earth’s internal structure

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51
Q

What is the density of the inner core?

A

10.7 g/cm3

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52
Q

What is the density of the lower mantle?

A

4.5 g/cm3

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53
Q

What are surface waves?

A

The large motion waves the you feel during an earthquake

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54
Q

What is the lithosphere

A

Rigid upper mantle
Crust floats on partially molten asthenosphere

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55
Q

Moho Discontinuity

A

The boundary between the Earth’s crust and it’s mantle, identified by a distinct change in velocity of seismic waves as they pass through different densities of rock

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56
Q

Who was Alfred Wegener?

A

German meteorologist and geophysicist
Advanced the idea of mobile continents
Fitted the continents together

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57
Q

What was Wegener’s evidence?

A

Matching sequence of rocks and mountain chains on separate continents
Fossil evidence of different continents
Glacial deposits in unusual places

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58
Q

What did Harry Hess discuss?

A

The spreading of the seafloor

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59
Q

What are the three marine provinces?

A

Continental Margin
Mid Ocean Ridges
Deep Ocean Basins

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60
Q

What are turbidite deposits?

A

Sedimentary beds caused by turbidity currents

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61
Q

What are submarine canyons?

A

A deep, steep sided valley carved into the ocean floor caused by turbidity currents

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62
Q

What are deep sea fans?

A

A deep sea fan is a large, fan shaped accumulation of sediment that forms at the base of the continental slope or on the continental rise

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63
Q

What are the characteristics of mid-ocean ridges?

A

Entirely volcanic
Composed of basaltic lavas
Crest is a down-dropped rift valley
Hydrothermal vents

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64
Q

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

A

Largest mountain range on Earth
Spreading center of a divergent boundary
Extends 75,000 km
1000 km average width
2.5 km above seafloor average height
Covers 23% of Earth’s surface

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65
Q

What are the four possible origins of particles?

A

Lithogenous/terrigenous
Biogenous
Hydrogenous
Cosmogenous

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66
Q

Where do cosmogenous particles come from?

A

Sediments that come from space and are a relatively minor source of ocean sediment

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67
Q

Where do hydrogenous particles come from?

A

Metal-rich particles that come from hydrothermal vents eventually sink to the seafloor in the area surrounding the seafloor
- Iron and manganese
- copper, cobalt, lead, nickel, silver, zinc

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68
Q

What are hydrothermal vents?

A

Discovered in the late 1970s, hydrothermal vents discharge heated water that does not contain oxygen but high concentrations of sulfides

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69
Q

Foraminifera (forams)

A

Calcium Carbonate shells

70
Q

Coccolithophores

A

Phytoplankton
Mostly in subpolar regions
Made of calclum carbonate
0.003 mm hubcap shape

71
Q

Radiolorians

A

Single cell
Among oldest protozoa
Planktonic
Silica shells
Rock formed: chert

72
Q

Diatoms

A

Single cell
2 part silica cell walls
indicators of environmental quality
Rock formed: chert

73
Q

Where do biogenous particles come from?

A

Largely hard parts
Calcareous (calcium carbonate)
Siliceous
Accumulation rate dependent upon rate of production and rate of decomposition

74
Q

Where do lithogenous particles come from? (primarily silica)

A

The land through weathering and erosion

75
Q

Neritic Deposits

A

Derived from rocks from nearby landmasses
- Coarse grained
- Accumulate rapidly on continental slope, rise, and shelf
Ex.
- Beach deposits
- Turbidite deposits
- Glacial deposits

76
Q

Pelagic Deposits

A

Fine-grained
Accumulates slowly on ocean floor
Includes particles from volcanic ash and windblown dust
Abyssal clay

77
Q

What was the first oceanographic institution

A

Woods Hole

78
Q

What percentage of the Earth are oceans?

A

71%

79
Q

What is the makeup up Earth’s current atmosphere?

A

78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
0.9% Argon

80
Q

What is the order of the scientific method?

A
  1. Observation / Problem
  2. Question
  3. Hypothesis
  4. Experiment
  5. Data Analysis
    6 Conclusion
  6. Write-up / Peer Review
81
Q

What small country sponsored many of the early ocean explorations?

A

Spain

82
Q

The Earth’s core is comprised of what elements?

A

Iron and Nickel

83
Q

What is the definition of accuracy?

A

Refers to the closeness to the known value

84
Q

What is the definition of precision?

A

Refers to the closeness of 2 or more measurements to each other

85
Q

How are sediments characterized?

A

Particle size
Organic composition
Redox potential

86
Q

What are the ocean zones by depth?

A

0 - 200 meters - Epipelagic
200 - 1000 meters - Mesopelagic
1000 - 4000 meters - Bathypelagic
4000 - 6000 meters - Abyssalpelagic
6000 - 10000 meters - Hadelpelagic

87
Q

How are ocean zones divided?

A

Depth
Light penetration
Distance from shore

88
Q

What are the ocean zones by light penetration?

A

0 - 200 meters - Euphotic
200 - 1000 meters - Disphotic
1000 - and on - Aphotic

89
Q

Name 5 types of coastal habitats in the US

A

Kelp forests
Rocky shorelines
Sandy beaches w/ dunes
Coral reefs
Seagrass Beds

90
Q

What are the 3 most commonly used base units?

A

Grams
Meters
Liters

91
Q

What is the environmental importance of coastal habitats?

A

High level of biodiversity
Important nutrient source for marine life

92
Q

What is the economic / human importance of coastal habitats?

A

Provides job
Barriers between nations
Money (fishing etc.)

93
Q

What is the region along the coast referred to as?

A

Neritic

94
Q

What are the four sections of the continental margin?

A

Continental shelf
Continental slope
Continental rise
Shelf break

95
Q

What type of charge do oxygen atoms have?

A

Negative charge

96
Q

What type of charge do hydrogen atoms have?

A

Positive charge

97
Q

What are the unique characteristics of water?

A

Cohesion
Adhesion
Universal solvent
High heat capacity
Expands while freezing

98
Q

What is the formula for salinity?

A

Mass of dissolved substance / Mass of water sample

99
Q

What would cause high surface salinity

A

Excess evaporation

100
Q

What would case low surface salinity?

A

Precipitation that exceeds evaporation

101
Q

What does the halocline refer to?

A

Salinity

102
Q

What does the thermocline refer to?

A

Temperature

103
Q

What does the pycnocline refer to?

A

Density

104
Q

Is cold or warm water more dense?

A

Cold

105
Q

Density formaula

A

Density = mass/ volume

106
Q

What are the three major processes in the water cycle that move water to and from the atmosphere and how they effect salinity

A

Condensation - no direct effect
Precipitation - decrease salinity
Evaporation - increase salinity

107
Q

Silica chemical formula

A

SiO2

108
Q

What tectonic process happens at convergent boundaries?

A

Subduction

109
Q

Is the seafloor created or destroyed at Oceanic - Oceanic convergent boundaries?

A

Destroyed

110
Q

Is the seafloor created or destroyed at Continental - Continental convergent boundaries?

A

Neither

111
Q

Example of a Continental - Continental convergent boundary

A

Himalayan mountains

112
Q

Example of an Oceanic - Oceanic convergent boundary

A

Aleutian island arc

113
Q

What tectonic process occurs at an Oceanic - Oceanic divergent boundary?

A

Spreading center

114
Q

Is seafloor created or destroyed in divergent boundaries?

A

Created

115
Q

Example of a Oceanic - Oceanic divergent boundary

A

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

116
Q

Example of a Continental - Continental divergent boundary

A

East African Rift Valley

117
Q

Tectonic process that occurs at a transform boundary?

A

Tranform faulting

118
Q

What landmark is on the West coast of South America?

A

Andes Mountains

119
Q

What causes surface waves?

A

Wind

120
Q

What causes internal waves?

A

Varying fluid density

121
Q

What is the definition of wave frequency?

A

The number of waves to pass by a fixed point per unit of time

122
Q

What is the definition of wave height?

A

The distance between the bottom of the trough and the top of the crest on a wave

123
Q

What is the definition of wave length?

A

The distance between successive points on a wave like crest to crest or trough to trough

124
Q

What is the definition of wave base?

A

The depth at which there is no more wave activity

125
Q

What is the definition of the still water level?

A

The wave level if no waves are occuring

126
Q

What is the definition of a shallow- water wave?

A

a wave that occurs at a depth less than or equal to the wavelength / 20

127
Q

What is the definition of a deep-water wave

A

A wave that occurs at a depth greater than or equal to the wavelength / 2

128
Q

Formula for wave speed

A

S = L/T

129
Q

Wave period is recorded in what type of units?

A

Seconds

130
Q

Are Tsunamis deep-water waves or shallow-water waves? why?

A

Shallow-water waves because they occur due to a deep underwater earthquake but have long wavelengths

131
Q

What are the tides called that occur at new and full moons?

A

Spring Tides

132
Q

What are the tides called that occur at 1st and 3rd quarter moons?

A

Neap Tides

133
Q

Why is the tide cycle shifted 50 minutes from the previous day?

A

The moon orbits the Earth in the same direction that the Earth rotates so it takes the moon 50 minutes to catch up

134
Q

What combined force causes the hydrosphere of the Earth to “bulge” outward?

A

The combined gravitational pull of the sun and the moon

135
Q

Diurnal Tide

A

Single high and low tides
ex. Gulf of Mexico

136
Q

Semidiurnal Tide

A

2 high tides and 2 low tides
ex. East coast of North America

137
Q

Mixed Tide

A

A mix of both diurnal and semidiurnal with higher tides than other high tides in the same period of time
ex. West coast of United States

138
Q

What is a flood tide

A

Rising tide

139
Q

What is an ebb tide

A

Falling tide

140
Q

How often does a high tide occur?

A

every 12 hours and 25 minutes

141
Q

What is a wave period?

A

The time it takes 1 wave to pass by a fixed point

142
Q

How do water particles move underneath a wave?

A

Circular orbitals

143
Q

What three factors influence wave development?

A

Windspeed
Wind duration
Fetch

144
Q

What are capillary waves?

A

The initial movement of the wave; ripples that are the farthest from the break

145
Q

What are gravity waves?

A

As the surface water gets rougher and wind has more of an impact the wave creates more energy and breaks on the surface

146
Q

What is the type of wave break that happens on a flat beach?

A

Spilling wave

147
Q

What is the type of wave break that happens on a moderate beach?

A

Plunging wave

148
Q

What is the type of wave break that happens on a steep beach?

A

Surging wave

149
Q

What is the declination (tilt) of the Earth?

A

23.45 degrees

150
Q

What are photons?

A

Packets of light energy

151
Q

What is the Albedo?

A

The reflectivity of Earth material

152
Q

How much solar radiation is reflected off of the Earth’s atmosphere?

A

~ 1/3

153
Q

Where does the heat of the sun strike most directly?

A

The equator

154
Q

What is the Coriolis effect?

A

Causes moving objects on Earth to follow a curved path

155
Q

How does air circulate on Earth?

A

Using convection currents

156
Q

Above the equator, in the northern hemisphere, how are things deflected?

A

To the right

157
Q

Below the equator, in the southern hemisphere, how are things deflected

A

To the left

158
Q

What type of atmospheric cells are from 0 degrees to 30 degrees?

A

Hadley Cells

159
Q

What type of atmospheric cells are from 30 degrees to 60 degrees?

A

Ferrel Cells

160
Q

What type of atmospheric cells are from 60 degrees to 90 degrees?

A

Polar Cells

161
Q

What is the definition of weather?

A

Describes the conditions of the atmosphere at a given time and place; short term; days, weeks, months

162
Q

What is the definition of climate?

A

Long term average of weather; decade, centuries

163
Q

Who discovered and mapped the Gulf Stream Current?

A

Ben Franklin

164
Q

What 4 factors affect the pattern of surface currents?

A

Major wind belts
Coriolis effect
seasonal changes
geometry of ocean basins

165
Q

What is coastal upwelling?

A

The upward movement of cold, deep, nutrient-rich water to the surface

166
Q

The ozone layer is located in what section of the Earth’s atmosphere?

A

Stratosphere

167
Q

What visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum provides the greatest amount of energy?

A

Violet

168
Q

What visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum provides the least amount of energy?

A

Red

169
Q

What is Ekman spiral?

A

A rotating column of water that forms when wind moves across the ocean’s surface, causing water to move at an angle to the wind; water is deflected slightly to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere

170
Q

What is Ekman transport?

A

The net movement of ocean surface water at a 90 degree angle to the direction of the wind, caused by the Coriolis effect, where water moves to the right of the wind in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

Oceanography (3 decks)

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