marsexam2

What is the amount of energy transferred from one body to another called

Heat

The direct measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules is called what

Temperature

Ways to measure salinity

Salinometer, evaporation, principle of constant proportions

What is the average open water salinity

35ppt

What is the average open water pH

8.1

Ways that ions can be added to increase salinity

River discharge, volcanic eruptions, hydrothermal activity at MOR

What is it called when density remains constant at depth

Isopycnal

Rapidly changing salinity with depth is called what

Halocline

Rapidly changing temperature with depth is called what

Pycnocline

As temperature increases what happens to density

Density decreases

T/F At high latitude regions density and temperature remain constant at depth

True

Earth’s first atmosphere was dominated by what

Nitrogen

How did Earth’s oceans form

Volcanic eruptions released water vapor that cooled and condensed to form water and fill in the oceans

At high latitudes is outgoing or incoming solar insulation greater

Outgoing

What is albedo and what has the highest albedo

Percentage of solar radiation that is reflected back into space; ice/snow

At what layer of the atmosphere does weather occur

Troposphere

According to the Coriolis Effect paths in the northern hemisphere are reflected to the ___ while in the southern hemisphere deflected to the ___

right; left

What primary circulation cell sits at 0-30 degrees

Hadley

T/F the ITCZ sits at the geographical equator

False

What winds move from subtropical high-pressure belts and converge on the ITCZ

Trade winds/Easterlies

What is it called when air is pulled toward land from the ocean

Sea Breeze

Organized system of strong thunderstorms with a max sustained winds of 62-118km/hr (Cyclonic shape, no eye)

Tropical storm

Average winds at 10m altitude that are over 118km/hr (cyclonic shape w/ eye)

Tropical cyclone

organized system of clouds and thunderstorms, max sustained winds under 62km/hr (no cyclonic shape, no eye)

Tropical depression

What powers hurricanes

Latent heat of condensation

What are the favorable conditions for hurricanes?

Warm/deep seawater

atmosphere cooling with height to release latent heat, low vertical windshear

pre-existing weather disturbance (African easterly waves)

T/F Hurricanes are more likely during El Nino years.

False

What is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide?

Storm surge

What is the leading cause of damage from hurricanes?

Storm surge

What is the sea-level rise from the combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide?

Storm tide

What will happen to hurricane activity with a 2-degree warmer planet?

Hurricane intensity will increase

The unit of measurement for global transport of ocean currents is what?

Sverdrup (SV)

1/3 of heat transfer is from what

Equator to poles

2/3 heat transfer is from what

atmosphere

surface currents are driven by what

wind

deep currents are driven by what

density

the western boundary current is cold or warm

warm

the eastern boundary current is cold or warm

cold

What is Ekman Spiral/Transport describing?

Water moves at a 45-degree to the right of wind direction at increasing depths (null under 100m)

what is upwelling?

Movement of cold deep nutrient-rich water to the surface.

downwelling

Who created the Global Ocean Conveyer theory?

Wallace S Boeker.

T/F the southern oscillation index is an atmospheric index?

True

What are two changes in neutral conditions that are seen during an El Nino phase?

Trade winds diminish, pacific warm pool flows back to S. America, water temps increase.

What are two global impacts seen from an El Nino event?

Corals are decimated, thermocline flattens, primary productivity decreases, cyclones increase in E. Pacific, rainfall increases off S. America

What are two changes in neutral conditions seen during La Nina phase?

Stronger trade winds, more upwelling, shallow thermocline in E. Pacific

T/F During La Nina Texas (usually) sees a drastic increase in rainfall?

False

Name 2 ways we can recreate ENSO activity.

Corals, tree rings, sediment.

What is the highest part of a wave called?

Crest

how do we measure the height of a wave?

Distance between crest and trough.

locally generated waves created by wind that are asymmetrical with steep crests are called what?

Seas

What is a group of waves called?

Wave train

what is the correct order for the development of waves?

Capillary waves, gravity waves then white caps.

What is duration in relation to waves?

The amount of time the wind is blowing across the surface.

What is fetch in relation to waves?

The length of uninterrupted ocean over which a wind blows.

What wave type is a curling crest over an air pocket, steeply sloping beaches fun for surfing.

Plunging breaker.

What wave type is a turbulent mass of air and water that runs down the front slope of the wave as it breaks.

Spilling breaker.

T/F tsunamis can also be called tidal waves?

False

What can cause a tsunami?

Underwater earthquake, landslide or explosion

what causes tides (simply put)?

Gravitational forces between sun and moon

what is resultant force?

The difference between the gravitational and centripetal forces

When water moves away from shore, what kind of tide is this?

Ebb tide

when water moves toward shore, what kind of tide is this?

Flow tide

Does the sun or the moon have more of an effect on tides?

Moon

what is declination?

Angular distance of sun or moon above or below the Earth’s

equator.

Tidal ranges are largest during either perihelion/perigee or aphelion/apogee.

Perihelion/perigee.

what is the amphidromic point?

Point in ocean basins or bays where there is no change in water level related to tides

2 high and 2 low tides each day is what type of tidal pattern?

Semidiurnal

1 high and 1 low tide each day is what type of tidal pattern?

Diurnal.

high and low tides have large differences is what type of tidal pattern?

Mixed.