Oceans iRats for Exam 2

Earths climate is controlled by the transfer of _______ between the oceans and atmosphere

water vapor

Atmospheric and oceanic circulation play critical roles in earth's heat budget by

transferring heat from low latitudes to high latitudes

How does water vapor change the density of air?

water vapor decreases the density of air because water molecules are lighter than molecules in air

What happens when warm, moist air rises in the atmosphere?

it cools, and water vapor condenses to form clouds and rain

Why does the amount of solar radiation received per unit area of the Earth's surface decrease with increasing latitude? I.e. why is there less light per square foot at the poles than at the equator?

primarily because the sun's rays strike the surface at a lower angle at higher latitudes

What kind of weather is typical in regions with high atmospheric pressure (air masses descend vertically)?

generally clear skies and light winds

Which of the following primarily controls the salinity patterns of surface ocean waters?

large-scale precipitation and evaporation

Where is sea surface salinity generally highest?

in subtropical regions far from land (warm and low precipitation)

If the Earth were not rotating and was uniformly covered by water, in which direction would the prevailing winds at the surface blow?

toward the equator

How does the Coriolis effect impact the direction of ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere?

it causes currents to deflect to the right of the flow direction

How do ocean temperature changes generally compare to land temperature changes?

oceans warm up more slowly and cool down more slowly than land areas

How many atmospheric convection cells are there in each hemisphere?

3

Three convection cells in each hemisphere

Hadley

Ferrel

Polar

What happens during the early phase of an El Niño event?

the Pacific trade winds weaken or reverse

What is the main source of energy for the development of hurricanes?

latent heat from the condensation of water vapor in warm ocean waters

What causes rain shadows to form on coastal mountains?

All of the options are correct

What determines the direction of Ekman currents?

wind direction and Coriolis effect

As one descends deeper into the water column in an Ekman current, what happens to the flow direction?

spirals progressively to the right (in the Northern hemisphere)

Which gyre is located in the North Atlantic Ocean?

North Atlantic Gyre

Which ocean does NOT contain a major oceanic gyre?

Arctic Ocean

In which direction is the current of a Northern Hemisphere gyre?

clockwise

Which factor does NOT directly influence the formation and movement of ocean gyres?

tidal cycles

What happens when currents pile up water, e.g. in a near-shore area?

downwelling occurs where the water is piled up

Which best describes ocean eddies?

circular currents of ocean water

Which of the following generates ocean eddies?

turbulence in oceans water

Which of the following is heavily influenced by the Meridional Overturning Circulation

regulating global climate patterns

What is the primary driver of the Meridional Overturning Circulation?

density differences in water (thermohaline processes)

Where does the deep-water formation that drives the Meridional Overturning Circulation

in the North Atlantic near Greenland

To what does 'thermohaline' refer?

temperature and salinity

Where does upwelling occur in an underwater pressure gradient (from high to low pressure)?

on the low pressure end