Gulf of Mexico Exam Quick Notes

Gulf of Mexico Exam Notes

Geography & Formation

  • The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by the USA, Mexico, and Cuba.
  • The Persian Gulf is the world’s largest single source of petroleum.
  • The Gulf of Mexico was formed by tectonic activity.

Oceanography

  • Eddies can act as “island oases” due to intense biological production.
  • The Florida Current and Gulf Stream bring heat to the east coast of North America.
  • River discharge goes through seasonal cycles, with highest discharge in the summer and lowest discharge in the spring.
  • Eddies rotate counter-clockwise.

Sediments & Sea Level

  • Sediments are matter broken down by erosion and transported.
  • Average sea level changes seasonally in the northern Gulf of Mexico due to river discharge cycles.

Environmental Issues & Law

  • The ultimate goal of a typical environmental lawsuit is to force legislators to change laws to address an environmental issue.

Deltas & Coastlines

  • A bird’s foot delta is dominated by river flow.
  • Delta switching influences the Louisiana coastline because as the river changed course, the natural flow of freshwater and sediment resulted in periods of land building and land loss in different areas of the delta.

Hurricanes

  • Impacts of hurricanes include mortality of sensitive organisms, physical damage to oyster reefs, and long-term changes in salinity and increases in turbidity.
  • Hurricane winds move counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. (False)

Beach Replenishment

  • Beach replenishment sand is commonly gone in less than 4 years.

Ocean Stratification

  • Stratification in the ocean is due to temperature and salinity differences.

Historical Ecology

  • The Mediterranean is a semi-enclosed oligotrophic sea and could not support highly productive fisheries, leading to terrestrial game hunting and animal husbandry.
  • Detailed maps of bays and harbors in the Gulf of Mexico were initially created to support military defense initiatives. (True)

Hurricane Preparedness

  • Strategies for hurricane preparedness include teaching the public to take actions that can save lives.