Open Oceans

Question 1

Give the 2 main influencers of surface ocean currents

Answer 1

Major global wind patterns (heating of the earth by the sun) and latitudinal variation in the Coriolis force

Question 2

Describe the coriolis effect

Answer 2

decrease in rotational velocity closer to the Earth’s axis (further from the equator) - from 1080 to 882mph

Question 3

What is ekman transport and what is it caused by?

Answer 3

net transport of water at 90 degrees from direction of wind, as a result of ekman spiral formation

Question 4

What is a subtropical gyre?

Answer 4

specific circular currents with areas of the ocean

Question 5

Which direction do subtropical gyres go in the northern hemisphere?

Answer 5

clockwise

Question 6

Which direction do subtropical gyres go in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 6

anticlockwise

Question 7

What is an AMT?

Answer 7

Atlantic Meridional Transect - used to address questions relating to mesoscale and basin-scale ocean plankton & biogeochemistry

Question 8

Describe the conditions along the intertropical convergence zone

Answer 8

high temperature, high winds and localised upwelling, low salinity due to rate of precipitation exceeding the rate of evaporation

Question 9

What is caused by the warm gulf stream meeting the cold Labrador current

Answer 9

the sargasso sea subtropical gyre and warm and cold core rings

Question 10

What is a meso-scale eddie?

Answer 10

100km eddie consisting of depressions (downwelling) and bumps (upwelling)

Question 11

What is sun flora and where is it found?

Answer 11

phytoplankton found above the thermo/nitracline where nuttrient levels are low but light levels are high (low f ratio)

Question 12

What is shade flora and where is it found?

Answer 12

flora found in deeper, nutrient rich but low light areas (low f ratio)