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45 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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El Nino is often called the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). What does “Southern Oscillation” refer to?
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The reversal of the pressure cells and wind direction across the Pacific. |
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True or False? During an El Nino, there is a pronounced thermocline and strong upwelling
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False. During an El Nino, the reversal of the tradewinds shuts down upwelling along the eastern Pacific. As the pool of warm water moves from the western Pacific towards the eastern Pacific, the thermocline and cool water become suppressed in the eastern Pacific.
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El Nino causes colder, stormier weather in the Midwest and northeast U.S. True or False.
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False |
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When was the most recent, severe ENSO event?
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1997-1998 The two most severe ENSO events of this century were the 1982-1983 and the 1997-1998 events. Effects of both events were experienced across the Pacific and some parts of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. |
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How do scientists collect data on El Nino and La Nina events?
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d. They use the TAO network of moored buoys to record sea surface temperatures and current rates |
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Dry drought-like conditions along the western coasts of North and South America are expected during a La Nina Event. True or False.
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False |
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Considering the global patterns of sea surface temperatures, where on the globe would you expect to find the warmest average sea surface temperatures?
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In the lower latitudes |
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Which factors influence sea surface temperature? Name 4.
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Zones of upwelling The distribution of land masses The locations of surface currents. |
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True or False: Ocean temperatures decrease as you move down through the water column. |
True.
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True or False: Warm water is denser than colder water.
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False.
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What is the average salinity of seawater?
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35 ppt (parts per thousand)
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Name 3 factors that contribute to the zones of high salinity in the subtropics.
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Location of the subtropics high pressure Distance from fresh water continental sources. |
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True or False: The most saline water is found in the deep ocean.
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False.
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Name two factors that contribute to the density of seawater.
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salinity and temperature |
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What term defines the movement of cold, nutrient-rich water from deep in the ocean up towards the surface?
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upwelling
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Where around the globe is the densest surface seawater found?
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Near the poles where sea ice is forming |
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Which of these does not influence Ocean Currents? A) Wind circulation above the surface water B) Coriolis effect C) Frictional stress between the ocean and wind D) Temperature of the ocean water |
D. temperature of the ocean water
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In all ocean basins, there are two currents that flow:
a. West to east b. North to south c. West d. East |
A. West to East
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The net transport of water due to coupling between wind and surface waters...
A) is the process of a Subtropical Gyre B) is known as the Ekman Transport C) is known as the Geostrophic flow D) is due to trade winds |
B. the Ekman transport
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Why are Western Boundary Currents faster than their eastern counterparts? A) The difference in water temperature B) That is where Subtropical Gyres are located C) The Coriolis Effect is stronger in these latitudes D) All of the above |
D. All of the above.
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How many volcanoes are estimated to exist at the bottom of the ocean basins? A) 0 B) 1000 C) 10000 D) 100000 |
C. 10,000
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Cold water currents generally flow:
A) towards the Poles B) towards the Equator C) to the Northeast D) to the Northwest |
B. Toward the equator
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T or F: Eastern boundary currents are faster and narrower than the Western boundary currents. |
False.
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Smaller gyres occur in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans centered at ________ North.
A) 50 degrees B) 40 degrees C) 30 degrees D) 20 degrees |
B. 40 degrees
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According to the QuikSCAT image on the Equatorial Currents page where are the storms/winds strongest in the ocean? A) Southern Westerlies B) Northern Westerlies C) Southern Easterlies D) Northern Eaterlies |
A. Southern westerlies
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How deep in to the ocean does the wind stress stop? Also known as Null Point. A) 50m B) 100m C) 150m D) 200m |
B. 100 m
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Shallow layer of surface water set in motion by the wind is deflected to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left of the wind direction in the Southern Hemisphere. What deflection is this known as? 1.Coriolis effect Ekman spiral Ekman transport |
A. Coriolis effect
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The northeastward flowing Gulf Stream of the northwestern Atlantic and the Kuroshio Current of the northwestern Pacific are the swiftest surface currents with velocities averaging ___ to ___km per hr. 1.3 to 4 km 21 to 22 km 12 to 13 |
A. 3 to 4 km
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The horizontal movement of surface water arising from a balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force is known as:
A) Geostrophic flow B) Gyres C) Trade Winds D) Western Boundary Currents |
A. Geostrophic flow
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True or false The largest ocean basin is the Pacific basin? A)True B)False |
True.
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Water can get a higher amount of salinity from evaporation? A) True B)False |
True
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The Humboldt Current is also known as the ______ or ______ current.
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Peru and Chile Current
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It takes an estimated _____ year(s) for the world's subsurface currents to complete a full circuit.
A) 1 B) 10 C) 100 D) 1000 |
D. 1000 years
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Western Boundary currents run northward along a continent's western side.
A) True B) False |
B. False.
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What currents are located in the in the Arctic Ocean? A. Greenland B. Antarctic Subpolar C. Labrador D. Both A and C |
D. Both A and C
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Western Boundary currents are the strongest.
True or False? |
True
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Which of these helps drive the Ocean Conveyor Belt?
A) Geostrophic flow B) Gyres C) Trade Winds D) Western Boundary Currents |
B. Gyres
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The water in western boundary currents typically move?
A) 200-250 miles per day B)125-175 miles per day C)25-75 miles per day |
C. 125-175 miles per day
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What do the Gulf Stream, Kuroshio and Agulhas currents have in common? A. They are warm, fast and deep B. They are cold, slow and shallow C. They are all wide (broad) D. They have nothing in common |
A. warm, fast and deep
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In El Niño years the Equatorial Counter Current in the Pacific Ocean ______.
A. Increases B. Decreases C. Changes direction with the seasons D. Flows towards the south |
A. Increases
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Which surface wind belt circles around both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
A. Trade winds B. Westerlies C. Polar Easterlies D. All of the Above |
D. All of the above.
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True or False: The North Pacific Oceans subtropical gyre causes a warm current South along the Californian coast. |
False.
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What is most true of gyres? a.) Their rotation is related to surface wind. b.) Their rotation is related to water temperature. c.) Their rotation is related to water depth. d.) Their rotation is random. |
A. Their rotation is related to surface wind.
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True or False: An Ekman spiral, is a downward spiraling shape that when plotted as a series or arrows, shows the direction and velocity of flow.
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True
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True or False
Upwilling cold water helps the formation of tropical cyclones? |
True: "Upwelling cold water inhinits formation of tropical cyclones (e.g hurricanes) Because tropical cyclones serve their energy from warm surface waters"
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