Quiz 4: Circulation Patterns & Ocean Currents

Question 1

The continuous flow around the periphery of an ocean basin is called ____?

Answer 1

Gyre/Gyres

Question 2

The Coriolis effect influences any moving mass as longa s it moves, so water in a gyre curves to the center of the North Atlantic and stop. True or False

Answer 2

True

Question 3

The net motion of the water down to about 100 meters, after allowance for the summed effects of the Ekman spiral is known as?

Answer 3

Ekman Transport

Question 4

Water near the ocean surface moves to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. True or False

Answer 4

True

Question 5

Ocean water circulates in currents caused mainly by wind friction and differences in water mass density beneath the surface zone. True or False

Answer 5

True

Question 6

The densest water masses formed by surface conditions that caused the water to become very cold and salty. True or False

Answer 6

True

Question 7

Water masses almost always form at the bottom of the ocean. True or False

Answer 7

False

Question 8

These are channels allow the cold, dense water formed in the Arctic to flow into the North Atlantic to form the what?

Answer 8

North Atlantic Deep Water

Question 9

An anomaly in surface circulation occurs when the trade winds falter, allowing warm water to build eastward across the Pacific.

Answer 9

Enso/ El Nino

Question 10

Modifies the courses of currents, with currents turning clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, and counter clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Answer 10

Coriolis Effect