Marine Science Midterms...

Front 1

“Midnight Sun” is a phenomenon observed in Northern Hemisphere polar regions only when the Sun is directly above:

1)The South Pole
2)The Equator
3)The Tropic of Capricorn
4)The North Pole
5)The Tropic of Cancer

Back 1

2) The Equator

Hint 1

Because Earth is a sphere, the area above the Northern Hemisphere polar circle at 66.5 degrees latitude (90 degrees minus 23.5 degrees; called the Arctic Circle) receives continuous solar radiation when the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer during the summer solstice. Note that for the Southern Hemishphere, the "midnight Sun" is experienced when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn during the winter solstice. Please see text page 165.

Front 2

Air descends (sinks) at:

1) the Equator and 30 degress latitude.
2) 30 degrees latitude.
3) 60 and 90 degrees latitude.
4) all of the above.
5) none of the above.

Back 2

2) 30 degrees latitude.

Front 3

Areas of high atmospheric pressure (at Earth's surface) generally experience what kind of conditions?

1) sinking air, with cloudy, rainy weather.
2) rising air, with dry, clear weather.
3) rising air, with cloudy, rainy weather.
4)sinking air, with dry, clear weather.
5)usually none of the above.

Back 3

4)sinking air, with dry, clear weather.

Front 4

At the time of the vernal equinox, the sun is directly overhead at:

1) The Equator
2) The Tropic of Cancer.
3) The Arctic Circle.
4) The Tropic of Capricorn.

Back 4

1) The Equator

Hint 4

The sun is directly above the Equator during both the vernal and autumnal equinox.

Front 5

Legend holds that the horse latitudes derived their name from sailors who, in desperation, threw horses overboard because the sailors were:

1) adrift in the doldrums
2) illegally in "the trades".
3) stuck between the trades and the westerlies.
4) abandoned in the subpolar low.
5) trapped in ice at the polar high.

Back 5

3) stuck between the trades and the westerlies.

Hint 5

The horse latitudes are centered on latitudes 30 degrees north and south.

Front 6

Ninety percent of people that are killed by hurricanes are killed by:

1) intense rainfall.
2) storm surge.
3) high winds and flying debris.
4) poorly built buildings
5) looting and raiding by people after the hurricane has passed.

Back 6

2) storm surge

Front 7

Overall, the gas that contributes the greatest amount of greehouse warming is:

1) carbon dioxide.
2) water vapour.
3) methane
4) sulfur dioxide.
5) oxygen.

Back 7

2) water vapour.

Hint 7

Carbon dioxide is less important than water vapor in contributing to global warming.

Front 8

Rising warm air is associated with regions of ________ atmospheric pressure caused by thermal ________.

1) high; compression
2) low; compression
3) high; expansion
4) low; expansion

Back 8

4) low; expansion

Front 9

The iron hypothesis states that:

1) carbnon removal in forests can be encouraged by planting genetically developed iron-rich trees.
2) productivity in the ocean can be stimuulated byt adding iron.
3)seeding clouds with finely ground iron can promote rainfall.
4)removing rusty iron fragments from the ocean floor wil be good for most marine organisms.

Back 9

2) productivity in the ocean can be stimulated by adding iron.

Hint 9

Iron appears to be the nutrient limiting productivity in some tropical waters. The iron hypothesis states that productivity will be stimulated by adding iron to these waters, which will cause increased abundance of photosynthetic algae and, in turn, additional CO2 to be absorbed from the atmosphere.

Front 10

The primary reason that Earth has seasons is because:

1) Earth's rotational axis is tilted .
2) the sun's intensity varies with the seasons.
3) Earth's eliptical orbit brings it nearer to the sun during the summer.
4) the days are longer during the summer season.
5) none of the above.

Back 10

1) Earth;s rotational axis is tilted.

Hint 10

Because Earth's rotational axis is tilted, it causes the Northern Hemisphere to face more directly into the sun in the summer and away from the sun in the winter (the reverse is true for the Southern Hemisphere).

Front 11

True or False? A land breeze flows from land to sea.

Back 11

TRUE.

Hint 11

The night air over land cools faster than over the ocean, which creates a high pressure region as the dense air sinks. Since air flows from high pressure to low pressure, the cool air is forced out to sea, creating a land breeze. Please see text page 175 and Figure 6-13.

Front 12

True or False? Air typically moves from regions of high atmospheric pressure towards regions of low atmospheric pressure.

Back 12

TRUE.

Hint 12

Air always moves from high-pressure towards low-pressure regions, producing wind. However, the Coriolis effect can modify the wind's direction, producing cyclonic or anticyclonic flow.

Front 13

True or False? The major wind belts of the world are generated by the lowermost portion of Earth’s atmospheric circulation cells.

Back 13

TRUE.

Hint 13

Masses of air move across Earth’s surface from areas of high pressure to low pressure. Prevailing winds flow in that direction of motion, with some deflection by the Coriolis effect. See pages 172-173 in the text.

Front 14

True or False? The surface winds of an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.

Back 14

TRUE.

Hint 14

Air flows away from the center of a high pressure cell at the surface and is deflected in the Southern Hemisphere by the Coriolis effect, which makes the air move counterclockwise. Conversely, air in an anticyclone rotates clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Please see text page 175.

Front 15

Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Coriolis effect?

1) The Coriolis effect is strongest at the poles and decreases to zero at the Equator.
2) The Coriolis effect tends to increases of decreases the speed of moving objects.
3) In the Nrothern Hemisphere, moving obkects tend to curve to RIGHT of their intended paths; in the Southern Hemisphere, moving objects tend to curve to the left of their intended paths.
3) The Coriolis effects is caused by Earth's rotation.
4) The Coriolis effect is the result of our perspective on a moving frame of reference (the spinning Earth).
5) All of the above statments are true (none of the above statements are false).

Back 15

2) The Coriolis effect tends to increase or decrease the speed of moving objects.

Front 16

The tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation with respect to the ecliptic is...

1) 2.3 degrees
2) 23.5 degrees
3) 25.3 degrees
4) 12.3 degrees
5) 32.5 degrees

Back 16

2) 23.5 degrees.

Front 17

The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is...

1) oxygen
2) water apour
3) carbon dioxide
4) nitrogen

Back 17

4) nitrogen

Front 18

Which of the following would be the least abundant gas in the atmosphere?

1) carbon dioxide
2) oxygen
3) water vapour
4) nitrogen

Back 18

1) carbon dioxide

Front 19

Which air mass would be the least dense?

1) hot humid
2) cold dry
3) cold humid
4) hot dry

Back 19

1) hot humid

Front 20

A moving mass that was travelling northward in the northern hemisphere would be apparently deflected to...

1) the west
2) upward
3) the east
4) the south

Back 20

3) the east