MS Exam 2 study guide

Atmospheric and ocean currents transport heat around the globe by

* Conduction
* Convection
* Radiation
* FedEx and UPS

Convection

Atmospheric convection cells are characterized by

* Warm air rising in one location and cold air sinking in another
* Cold air rising in one location and warm air sinking in another
* Warm air rising and cold air sinking in the same location
* None of the above

Warm air rising in one location and cold air sinking in another

Atmospheric convection cells are characterized by

* Elevated precipitation where warm air rises
* Dry conditions where cold air sinks
* Elevated precipitation where cold air sinks
* Dry conditions where warm air rises
* Both A and B
* Both C and D

Both A and B

The coriolis effect causes moving fluids to

* travel in straight lines
* deflect to right in N hemisphere and left in S hemisphere
* deflect to left in N hemisphere and right in S hemisphere
* None of the above

* deflect to right in N hemisphere and left in S hemisphere

Where does warm, moist air rise as part of the atmospheric convection cells?

near equator

Where would you find the trade winds

 about 30 degrees north and south of the equator

Where would you find the westerlies

from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude

Where would you find the polar easterlies

begins at approximately 60 degrees north and south latitude and reaches to the poles

What direction are winds moving during the rainy monsoon season

* from land to ocean
* from ocean to land
* parallel to coast
* none

from ocean to land

Cool sea breezes at the coast are due to

* Land heating faster than the ocean during the day
* Land cooling faster than the ocean during the night
* The ocean heating faster than the land during the day
* The ocean cooling faster than the land during the night

Land heating faster than the ocean during the day

Which of the following is true about hurricanes

* they form over the warmest, tropical waters
* they are low pressure systems
* they follow major atmospheric wind bands
* they transport large amounts of heat from the tropics towards the poles
* all of the above

all of the above

Separation of different layers of water due to density differences is called

* Mixing
* Layering
* Stratification
* Densification

stratification

What is the top layer of the surface ocean called?

mixed layer

What is the middle layer of the surface ocean called

thermocline

The region of the water column with rapidly changing temperature is called the

* Lysocline
* Thermocline
* Halocline
* Pcynocline

Thermocline

Which statement about these two temperature profiles is true

* A is more strongly stratified and typical of winter
* A is more strongly stratified and typical of summer
* B is more strongly stratified and typical of winter
* B is more strongly stratified and typical of summer

B is more strongly stratified and typical of summer

What direction do surface ocean currents travel in the Northern Hemisphere

* In the same direction as the wind
* 45 degrees to the right of the wind
* 90 degrees to the right of the wind
* 45 degrees to the left of the wind
* 90 degrees to the left of the wind

45 degrees to the right of the wind

In the Northern Hemisphere, what is the direction of net water transport in an Ekman spiral

* in the same direction as the wind
* 45 degrees to the right of the wind
* 90 degrees to the right of the wind


* 45 degrees to the left of the wind
* 90 degrees to the left of the wind

90 degrees to the right of the wind

What are these large, circular currents in the major ocean basins called?

Geostrophic gyres

What two forces are balanced in a geotropic gyre

* Coriolis force and winds
* Convection and coriolis force
* Coriolis force and gravity
* Gravity and buoyancy

Coriolis force and gravity

Which of the following describes an El Nino event?

A. reversal of the Indonesian low and south pacific high

B. reversal of the Indonesian high and south pacific low

C. flow of warm water across the pacific from west to east

D. flow of cold water across the pacific from east to west

E. Both A and C

F. Both B and D

Both A and C

If you are in the Southern Hemisphere and the dashed arrow is the wind direction, which statement is true

* A is the direction of the surface currents, B is the direction of Ekman transport
* B is the direction of the surface currents, A is the direction of Ekman transport
* C is the direction of the surface currents, D is the direction of Ekman transport
* D is the direction of the surface currents, C is the direction of Ekman transport

B is the direction of surface currents, A is the direction of Ekman transport

In what direction do the geostrophic gyres rotate

* Clockwise in both hemispheres
* Counterclockwise in both hemispheres
* Clockwise in the N Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the S Hemisphere
* Counterclockwise in the N Hemisphere and clockwise in the S Hemisphere

Clockwise in the N hemisphere and counterclockwise in the S Hemisphere

The middle of the geostrophic gyres can be described as

* Zones of convergence with a depend thermocline
* Zones of convergence with an elevated thermocline
* Zones of divergence with a depend thermocline
* Zones of divergence with an elevated thermocline

Zones of convergence with a depend thermocline

The gulf stream is an example of

* Western intensification
* Eastern intensification
* Northern intensification
* Southern intensification

western intensification

Which statement is true about western and eastern boundary currents

* WBCs tend to be faster, narrower, and deeper
* EBCs tend to be faster, narrower, and deeper
* They tend to have the same speed, width, and depth

WBCs tend to be faster, narrower, and deeper

Which statement is true

* A and B are warm core eddies
* A and B are cold core eddies
* A is a warm core eddy and B is a cold core eddy
* A is a cold core eddy and B is a warm core eddy

A is a cold core eddy and B is a warm core eddy

Convergence zones are characterized by

* A deepened thermocline and downwelling
* A deepened thermocline and upwelling
* An elevated thermocline and downwelling
* An elevated thermocline and upwelling

a depend thermocline and downwelling

Divergence zones are characterized by

* a deepend thermocline and downwelling
* a deepened thermocline and upwelling
* An elevated thermocline and downwelling
* An elevated thermocline and upwelling

an elevated thermocline and upwelling

This northern hemisphere location is likely to be characterized by

* downwelling
* upwelling
* neither

upwelling

Where does costal upwelling usually occur

* Western boundary currents
* Eastern boundary currents
* Northern boundary currents
* Southern boundary currents

eastern boundary currents

What effect does El Nino have on the Peruvian upwelling zone

* Deepens the thermocline and enhances upwelling
* Shallows the thermocline and enhances upwelling
* Deepens the thermocline and reduces/reverses upwelling
* Shallows the thermocline and reduces/reverses upwelling

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Deepens the thermocline and reduces/reverses upwelling

Which statement about the El Nino - Southern Oscillation is not true

* El Nino is the relatively warm phase; La Nina is the relatively cool phase
* El Nino is the relatively cold phase, La Nina is the relatively warm phase
* El Nino events occur about every 3-7 years
* El Nino events affect climate around the globe

B

A large body of water that has similar values of temperature and salinity throughout is called a

water mass

The boundary between two water masses is called a

front

Using the T-S diagram, what is the density of water with T=10 and S=35.1

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1\.0270

Using the T-S diagram, what values are typical of Mediterranean water

T=10, S=35.6

Four water masses are plotted on the T-S diagram. Which one will reside at the bottom of a stable water column

D

Which profile depicts an unstable water column

C

What is happening to ocean water at the location identified by the arrow

formation of deep water

All of the following are locations of deep water formation except

C

What causes the formation and sinking of deep water

* surface water gets cold and fresher as it moves towards the poles
* surface water gets cold and saltier as it moves towards the poles
* surface water gets warm and saltier as it moves towards the poles
* surface water gets warm and saltier as it moves towards the equator

surface water gets cold and saltier as it moves towards the poles

As deep water forms and sinks near the poles, water must come in from elsewhere to replace it. Where does this new water come from?

equator

Thermohaline circulation moves heat around the planet by

* Conduction
* Radiation
* Convection

Convection

Due to climate change, thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic ocean is

* strengthening
* weakening
* staying the same

weakening

The region of the water column with enough light for photosynthesis is called the

* illuminated zone
* twilight zone
* photic zone
* aphotic zone

photic zone

Benthic refers to which region of the ocean

* pelagic zone
* neurotic zone
* abyssal zone
* the seafloor

seafloor

As ocean depth increases, light…

* decreases linearly
* decreases exponentially
* stays the same
* increases linearly
* increases exponentially

decreases exponentially

Which wavelength of light penetrates deepest in ocean water

* red
* orange
* yellow
* green
* blue

blue

Which group of marine organisms are unable to move against the currents?

* plankton
* nekton
* benthos
* sea birds

plankton

Which group of plankton conduct photosynthesis

* bacterioplankton
* phytoplankton
* zooplankton
* icthyoplankton

phytoplankton

As size of marine organisms increases, their abundance

* increases
* decreases
* stays the same

decreases

As the size of marine organisms decreases, their surface area to volume ratio

* increases
* decreases
* stays the same

increases

Which group of marine organisms are able to swim against the currents

* plankton
* nekton
* ethos
* bacteria

nekton

Which group of plankton are autographs

* bacterioplankton
* phytoplankton
* zooplankton
* ichthyoplankton

phytoplankton

Which group(s) of plankton are heterotrophs

* bacterioplankton
* phytoplankton
* zooplankton
* A and C

bacterioplankton and zooplankton

Which group of plankton are the primary consumers in the oceanic food chain

* bacterioplankton
* phytoplankton


* zooplankton
* ichthyoplankton

zooplankton

Which group of plankton are the major decomposers in the ocean

* bacterioplankton
* phytoplankton
* zooplankton
* ichthyoplankton

Which is new primary production

* Total amount of organic matter produced
* Amount of organic matter produced minus autotrophic respiration
* Amount of organic matter produced minus all respiration
* Total amount of respiration

Amount of organic matter produced minus autotrophic respiration 

Mineral elements necessary for growth and maintenance of life are called

nutrients

Which of these is true about respiration

* it releases energy stores in organic matter
* it consumes O2
* It rprocues CO2
* It recycles nutrients
* all of the above

all of the above

A linear representation of feeding relationships is called a

* Food chain
* food web
* Tropic web
* Trophic pyramid

food chain

What is an adaptation plankton have to reduce sinking

flagella, oil deposits, spikes

What is one reason plankton undergo diel vertical migration?

avoid predation or food

Which statement is true as depth increases in the ocean

* Light decreases and nutrient concentrations remain constant
* Light and nutrient concentrations decrease
* Light decreases and nutrient concentrations increase
* Light remains constant and nutrient concentrations increase

Light decreases and nutrient concentrations increase

Which statement is true as depth increases in the ocean

* Photosynthesis and respiration both decrease
* Photosynthesis decreases and respiration remains constant
* Photosynthesis decreases and respiration increases
* Photosynthesis remains constant and respiration increases

Photosynthesis decreases and respiration remains constant

GPP is equal at the

* Mixed layer depth
* Compensation depth
* Euphotic depth
* Critical depth

compensation depth

What is the correct Redfield Ratio

* 106 N : 16P : 1 Si
* 106 C : 16N : 1Fe
* 106 C : 16 N : 1P
* 106 C : 16 N : 1 Si

106 C : 16 N : 1P

Outside of the HNLC regions, what is the most limiting nutrient in the ocean?

* C
* N
* P
* Si
* Fe

N

What is the most limiting nutrient in the HNLC regions

* C
* N
* P
* Si
* Fe

Fe

A large accumulation of phytoplankton biomass is called a

bloom

For a bloom to occur, phytoplankton have to remain above the

* Mixed layer depth
* compensation depth
* euphotic depth
* critical depth

critical depth

What causes the spring phytoplankton bloom?

shallowing mixed layer, high nutrients, increasing light

Why don’t plankton tend to bloom during summer in the temperate ocean?

strong stratification, low nutrients, zooplankton grading

Which of these annual phytoplankton cycles represents the tropical ocean?

B

In temperate regions, which season is characterized by high nutrients, a developing mixed layer, and greatest productivity?

* Winter
* Spring
* Summer
* Fall

Spring

Which oceanic region is characterized by a single, large bloom in summer?

* Arctic ocean
* north Altlantic
* Sargasso Sea
* Tropical regions

Arctic ocean

The large ocean gyres are oligotrophic due to

* Convergence
* downwelling
* depression of pycnocline
* Low nutrient concentrations
* all of the above

All of the above

What regions are entropic due to their shallow depths and riverine input of nutrients

* Ocean gyres
* Upwelling zones
* Coastal margins
* temperate and polar oceans

Coastal margins

Why is the region in the red box so eutrophic

* Coastal upwelling
* convergence and downwelling
* river input of nutrients
* winter mixing followed by stratification in spring/summer
* none of the above

Coastal upwelling

What happens to primary production in this area during El Nino

* increases
* decreases
* remains the same

Decreases

Which oceanic regions tend to have the highest rates of primary production per m2

* Open ocean
* Coastal ocean
* Estuaries
* Upwelling regions

Upwelling regions

Which oceanic regions fix the most carbon across the entire planet

* Open ocean
* Coastal ocean


* Estuaries
* Upwelling regions 

Open ocean

Carbon fixed by phytoplankton GPP can

* support a phytoplankton bloom
* move up the food chain
* Cycle through the microbial loop
* sink to depth
* all of the above

All of the above

The microbial loop is the process where

* phytoplankton are consumed by zooplankton which are consumed by fish
* bacteria recycle nutrients through respiration
* leached organic matter is taken up by bacteria which are consumed by small zooplankton
* leached organic matter sinks to depth where it is consumed by bacteria

Leached organic matter is taken up by bacteria which are consumed by small zooplankton

The biological pump is the process by which

* CO2 is released from the ocean to the atmosphere
* CO2 is sequestered in the deep ocean by sinking organic matter
* Nutrients are sequestered in the deep ocean by sinking organic matter
* Nutrients are recycled in the deep ocean by respiration

CO2 is sequestered in the deep ocean by sinking organic matter

The constant rain of organic matter from surface waters to the deep ocean is called

Marine snow

What explains the decreasing O2 and increasing CO2 with depth in the profile

* photosynthesis at depth
* respiration at depth
* balanced photosynthesis and respiration
* upwelling
* none of the above

Respiration at depth

What is the circled region on the O2 profile called

Oxygen minimum zone

What are some adaptations nekton use to swim without sinking

streamlined body shape, fins, and buoyancy control

What are some adaptations nekton use to deal with cold temperatures, salinity, and /or high pressure

countercurrent heat exchange , regulating salt content, fill gas bladders with fat cells

What is an adaptation nekton use to reproduce

What is an adaptation nekton use to avoid predators

migrations, camouflage, bioluminescence

What are some adaptations nekton use to find and capture food

large mouth, hinged jaw, needle-like teeth

What role do nekton play in the ocean food chain

* Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary consumers
* Heterotrophs
* top predators
* all of the above

All of the above

Regions with greater fish abundance and catches are generally associated with

* Greater GPP
* Lower GPP
* there is no relationship

Greater GPP

El Nino events are associated with

* increased upwelling, GPP< and anchovy catch
* Increased upwelling and GPP< but decreased anchovy catch
* Decreased upwelling and GPP, but increased anchovy catch
* Decreased upwelling, GPP and anchovy catch

Decreased upwelling, GPP, and anchovy catch

What part of the earth has the most positive heat balance

* tropics
* mid-latitudes
* polar regions
* heat balance is equal across the planet

tropics

What is shown in the digram to the right

* atmospheric conduction cell
* atmospheric convection cell
* atmospheric radiano cell
* atmospheric thermal cell

atmospheric convection cell

Rising war air is usually associated with

* dry, high pressure conditions
* wet, high pressure conditions
* dry, low pressure conditions
* wet, low pressure conditions

wet, low pressure conditions