Oceanography Midterm

What is a testable explanation for an observed phenomenon?

Hypothesis

A __ is an explanation supported by a large body of evidence.

Theory

The Big Bang Theory explains the __ of the universe.

Origin

What process formed planets from a rotating gas cloud?

Accretion

What caused Earth to separate into layers?

Density stratification

Heavier elements like iron sank to Earth's core due to __.

Density

What contributed to the early atmosphere?

Volcanic outgassing and comet impacts

The early ocean's salinity was caused by the breakdown of __.

Minerals

Who proposed the Continental Drift Hypothesis?

Alfred Wegener

What was the name of the ancient supercontinent?

Pangaea

What supports sea-floor spreading?

Mid-ocean ridges and magnetic reversals

Paleomagnetism helps determine the original __ of a rock.

Latitude

What type of seismic wave can travel through both solids and liquids?

P-waves

What does the lithosphere include?

Crust and upper mantle

What layer allows tectonic plates to move?

Asthenosphere

Which crust is thinner and denser?

Oceanic (basaltic)

What plate boundary is the San Andreas Fault an example of?

Transform

Which plate is Los Angeles on?

Pacific Plate

What type of boundary creates deep ocean trenches?

Convergent

A stationary magma zone that forms island chains is called a __.

Hot spot

Passive continental margins are usually associated with __.

Diverging plates

Submarine canyons are formed by __.

Turbidites

What is found at fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges?

Rises

What are hydrothermal vents?

Underwater geysers

Where is ocean salinity typically the highest?

Evaporation-prone areas

What are the two most abundant ions in seawater?

Sodium and chloride

What zone marks a rapid temperature change in the ocean?

Thermocline

What is the average salinity of the ocean (in ‰)?

35

Residence time = amount / __.

Rate of input or removal

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects air to the __.

Right

Adiabatic cooling occurs when air __.

Expands as it rises

What are the wind belts between 30° and 60° latitude called?

Westerlies

The equator receives more solar energy because sunlight hits it __.

Directly

A land breeze blows from land to sea during the __.

Night

Hurricanes typically form between what latitudes?

5°–20°

What is the current off the coast of California?

California Current

Cold, nutrient-rich water rising to the surface is called __.

Upwelling

Western boundary currents are __.

Warm and fast

Deep ocean circulation is driven by temperature and __.

Salinity

El Niño causes __ water in the eastern Pacific.

Warm

What is the highest point of a wave?

Crest

Waves that do not interact with the seafloor are called __.

Deep-water waves

What causes a tsunami?

Underwater disturbance

When two waves combine to make a bigger wave, it's called __ interference.

Constructive

Internal waves are found at the __.

Pycnocline

Low-pressure systems are associated with __.

Rising air and precipitation

The eye of a hurricane is typically __.

Calm and clear

What causes Earth’s greenhouse effect to increase?

Rising CO₂ levels

Which wind pattern is calm and found at the equator?

Doldrums

What type of boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

Divergent

Continental-continental convergence creates what feature?

Mountains

What rock is continental crust compositionally similar to?

Granite

Basaltic crust is compositionally similar to what igneous rock?

Gabbro

A seiche is caused by changes in __.

Atmospheric pressure

What are storm surges caused by?

Wind and low pressure

What is a shallow-water wave?

A wave interacting with the seafloor

What feature connects ridges and fracture zones?

Transform faults

What kind of boundary is associated with subduction zones?

Convergent

What type of margin does Southern California have?

Active margin

Abyssal plains are covered in __.

Sediment

What causes the difference between passive and active margins?

Plate boundaries

What causes land breezes?

Faster cooling of land than water

What process transports warm water poleward?

Western boundary currents

Ekman transport causes water to move at what angle to the wind?

90°

What are the properties of the atmosphere primarily composed of?

Nitrogen and oxygen

Photosynthesis increases __ levels in ocean water.

Oxygen

What forms when cold and warm air masses meet?

Cyclones

What drives surface ocean currents?

Wind

The deep sea has little light, also known as the __ zone.

Aphotic

What zone does photosynthesis occur in?

Photic zone

The depth of the photic zone depends on __.

Light penetration

What does the pycnocline represent?

Rapid change in density

What is halocline?

Rapid change in salinity

What factor does not affect CO₂ in the ocean?

Tides

Which currents flow west to east between 30°–60°?

Westerlies

What is the name of the largest surface current system?

Gyres

A submarine fan forms at the base of the __.

Continental slope

How do hot spots form island chains?

Plates move over stationary magma

What type of margin has little volcanic activity?

Passive margin

Oceanic-oceanic convergence creates what?

Volcanic island arcs

What current travels against a coastline and is cold and shallow?

Eastern boundary current

What do internal waves form along?

Density boundaries

What is needed for a tropical cyclone to form?

Warm ocean water

What drives thermohaline circulation?

Temperature and salinity

What climate effect is linked to El Niño?

Global weather pattern shifts

What determines a wave’s velocity?

Wavelength / period

What is the main source of heat for Earth’s surface?

The Sun

What kind of margin forms at divergent boundaries?

Passive margin

Where does CO₂ get locked in rocks?

Limestone (calcite)

What boundary creates mid-ocean ridges?

Divergent

How do fracture zones differ from transform faults?

Fracture zones are inactive

The Earth's magnetic field is generated in the __.

Inner core

The Pacific Plate is moving over which hot spot?

Hawaiian

What results when upwelling brings nutrients to surface waters?

High biological productivity

What is the role of the ocean in the greenhouse effect?

Stores CO₂ and heat

What layer includes tectonic plates?

Lithosphere

What process leads to cloud formation from rising air?

Adiabatic cooling

What evidence supports continental drift?

Fossils, rock formations, glaciation

Which ocean zone extends from the edge of the continental shelf down to the abyssal plain?

Continental slope

What does “constructive interference” do to wave height?

Increases it