Ocs1006 Exam 3

Front 1

the volume of gases, water vapor, and airborne particles enveloping Earth. Earth’s atmosphere and ocean are intertwined.

Back 1

Atmosphere

Front 2

the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place

Back 2

Weather

Front 3

the long-term average of weather in an area

Back 3

Climate

Front 4

caused by the difference in air density resulting from the temperature difference between different areas. (Think of warm air rising in a room as cold air falls). Air circulation on Earth is governed by uneven solar heating and Earth’s rotation.

Back 4

Convection currents

Front 5

Earth’s eastward rotation deflects air and water (or any moving body). This deflection is called the _____ = sine latitude.

Back 5

Coriolis Effect

As you go further north, the Coriolis Effect gets stronger. In the Northern Hemisphere objects appear to move to the right and in the Southern Hemisphere this movement appears to be towards the left. Both objects are moving east.

Front 6

_____ _____cells are large circuits of moving air. There are six.

Back 6

Atmospheric circulation

Polar cell


Ferrel cell


Hadley Cell
Doldrums
Hadley Cell


Ferrel Cell


Polar Cell

Front 7

The _______ is an air current that creates the world’s strongest oceanic current. The ocean current continually flows eastward around the South Pole.

Back 7

West Wind Belt

Front 8

Air at the boundaries between circulation cells (at 30º or at the equator) moves vertically, but within a cell air moves horizontally. The calm air at the boundaries are called doldrums or ______

Back 8

intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).

This area is known as the meteorological equator as opposed to the geographical equator because it typically varies about 5º to the North. This is because there is proportionally more land in the Northern hemisphere.

Front 9

The ___ ____ move within Hadley cells

Back 9

trade winds

Front 10

the ______ move within Ferrel cells.

Back 10

westerlies

Front 11

air becomes cooler when it expands and warmer when compressed. Air descending from high altitude warms as it is compressed by the higher atmospheric pressure near Earth’s surface.

Back 11

Heat input to Earth:

Front 12

How much light penetrates the ocean depends on several factors:

Back 12

the angle at which it approaches, the sea state (how much turbulence?), and the presence of ice.
- near the poles light filters through more atmosphere, and approaches at a low angle, so a lot of light is reflected. The opposite is true of tropical areas.
- water temperatures are regulated largely by air circulation. As water evaporates and condenses to form rain, it moves between the poles and the tropics to regulate temperatures.

Front 13

_______ are patterns of wind circulation that change with the seasons. The seasonal changes of the ITCZ affect weather greatly in areas like India and Bangladesh.

Back 13

Monsoons

Front 14

large tropical cyclones. Great masses of warm, humid, rotating air.

Back 14

hurricanes

- a hurricane cannot sustain itself below 26º C
- typically start in the ITCZ
-There origin is not well understood, but they begin to form in areas of low pressure over a large, warm landmass. Air is heated as it travels over warm waters (like the Gulf). As circular winds begin to blow, air is forced upward where condensation begins.
- hurricanes get energy from water’s high latent heat of vaporization as water vapor recondenses into a liquid (where E is released).

Front 15

º tilt of the Earth

Back 15

23.5

Front 16

are the mass flow of water. They are named for the land they border.

Back 16

currents

Front 17

are wind-driven and make up for about 10% of the world’s water.

Back 17

surface currents

Front 18

are slow and deep currents that affect the vast bulk of seawater beneath the thermocline.

Back 18

Thermohaline currents

Front 19

causes currents in the Northern hemisphere to flow to the right and those of the Southern Hemisphere to flow to the left, creating gyres. Continents block continuous water flow and aid the Coriolis so that water moves around an ocean basin. Diagram:

Back 19

The Coriolis Effect

Front 20

An ____ _____ is the arrangement of water movement throughout the deepening layers of the ocean. Surface water moves at a 45º angle to wind, but each deeper layer moves to the right of the layer above it. This creates a spiral until eventually water actually flows in the opposite direction of surface water. The net motion of water down to about 100 meters is known as Eckman transport.

Back 20

Eckman spiral

Front 21

Eckman transport explains

Back 21

This explains why water in a gyre stays in a circular pattern and does not move East or West into the center of the gyre; because it would have to go against the pressure gradient and defy gravity.

Front 22

are those in balance with the Coriolis Effect and the pressure gradient. There are six of these currents (see p. 239 for diagram), two in the Northern Hemisphere and four in the Southern.

Back 22

Geostropohic gyres/currents

Front 23

As discussed before, the __ ___ ___ or Antarctic Circumpolar Current flows around the South Pole and is the world’s strongest current.

Back 23

West Wind Belt

Front 24

are fast, deep, and warm. They are found off the East coast of continents and are narrow and move warm water to the poles. Nutrients are usually depleted in these currents. The Gulf Stream is the largest western boundary current.

Back 24

Western Boundary Currents

Front 25

form when the current moves closer to the poles and water begins to loop and meander to form turbulent rings. They can be either cold-core eddies, which form within the Gulf Stream or warm-core eddies which form when warm water loops into cold polar waters.
- Eastern boundary currents are the opposite of those on the west. They are broad and shallow.

Back 25

Eddies

Front 26

explains why western boundary currents are so much stronger than their eastern counterparts, making gyres non-symmetrical. As you remember, the Coriolis effect grows stronger as it moves away from the equator, so it quickly pushes water flowing eastward (Western boundary currents) and it does not push the waters flowing westward, near the equator (Eastern boundary currents) at all, allowing them to be wider. (see Figure 9.13 on p. 243)

Back 26

Westward intensification

Front 27

is created by wind-driven horizontal movement of water (this is downwelling or upwelling)

Back 27

Vertical Circulation

Front 28

is the unexplained switch of high and low pressure areas in the Pacific. This typically occurs every 3 to 8 years. This pressure change also changes the direction of the winds that flow in these areas, such as the Trade Winds.

Back 28

El Niño

Front 29

This change in wind and pressure is also known as

Back 29

southern oscillation

This affects the environment because trade winds begin to move warmer waters over the areas of upwelling (cold, deep, nutrient-rich water). Fish and seabirds abandon this new nutrient-depleted area. Sea levels also rise and water gets warmer. This combination causes an increase in rainfall in some areas (monsoons) and extreme drought in others as water evaporates and condenses.

Front 30

are the movement of deeper waters due to density differences. The whole ocean is involved in a slow thermohaline current that takes about 1000 years to complete. As water loses heat to the atmosphere it sinks to become cold water (downwelling). Examples of Thermolhaline currents are The Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) and the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)

Back 30

Thermohaline Currents

Front 31

the vertical distance between a wave length and an adjacent trough

Back 31

wave height

Front 32

the horizontal distance between two successive crests

Back 32

wave length

Front 33

is the time it takes for a wave to move a distance of one wavelength
- Particles of a sea wave move in circular motions called orbits. These orbits move particles up and forward then down and back. For waves in water, the actual water is not moving, but energy is being passed through it to create a wave.

Back 33

wave period

Front 34

generally found on Western boundaries. They are created when wind waves of various wavelengths and heights collide. The crests of these wind waves come from different directions and combine to form one huge super wave. Wave height is 1/7 of wavelength.

Back 34

rogue waves

Front 35

depth (of the ocean) ≤ wavelength ÷ 2
C (speed) = 3.31 √D

Back 35

shallow waves

Front 36

depth (of the ocean) ≥ wavelength ÷ 2
C (speed) = 1.25 √ L

Back 36

deep waves

Front 37

___ ___ ___ change to shallow water waves as they approach shore. Also, wave refraction or wave bending occurs as waves approach shore and become shallower because the waves are breaking at different depths. Eventually a long shore drift will occur as water moves back out to sea and form a rip current.

Back 37

Deep water waves

Front 38

__ __ are gravity waves formed by the transfer of wind energy to water. They grow from small capillary waves which are always present in the ocean. The Beaufort wind scale is a list of wind intensities from 0-12 and its affect on water (calm-gale-hurricane)

Back 38

Wind waves

Front 39

Three factors determine how energy is imparted to the sea for wind waves

Back 39

1. wave speed
2. duration
3. fetch (expanse of water)

Front 40

Waves are weakened by __ ___ __ like gravity. A restoring force returns a wave to flatness after a wave. For very small waves (.68 inches or less) cohesion is the restoring force. The inertia of the crest pulling downward creates a trough instead of a flat area.

Back 40

a restoring force

Front 41

Mature waves from a storm sort themselves into groups with similar wavelengths and speeds this is known as ____ and it produces the familiar undulation of the ocean surface called a swell. These swells often announce a storms arrival.

Back 41

dispersion

Front 42

Waves travel in groups called __ __, and as the leading wave moves forward it transfers half of its energy to the wave behind it. A wave train moves at half the speed of the leading wave. Therefore, the leading wave disappears as new waves form behind, creating wave groups.

Back 42

wave trains

Front 43

when waves of different sizes meet in the ocean.

Back 43

interference

Front 44

the cancellation effect of subtraction on waves

Back 44

destructive interference

Front 45

is the additive formation of large crests or deep troughs.

Back 45

constructive interference

Front 46

Breaking waves:

Back 46

Plunging –

Spilling –

Surging –

Collapsing

Front 47

the upper section topples forward and away from the bottom, forming an air-filled tube

Back 47

plunging

Front 48

crest slides down the face of the wave

Back 48

spilling

Front 49

moves ashore without breaking

Back 49

surging

Front 50

A ___ is a shallow water wave with a long wavelength. It is caused by seismic activity.

Back 50

tsunami

Front 51

form beneath the ocean’s surface and they move slower than regular waves. They occur at the base of the topmost layer of the ocean.

Back 51

internal waves

Front 52

are relatively harmless waves associated with the tide.

Back 52

tidal waves

Front 53

rogue generated by

Back 53

wind

Front 54

Wind generated by

Back 54

wind

Front 55

tsunami generated by

Back 55

tectonics

Front 56

tidal generated by

Back 56

forced waves, created by a force

Front 57

seiche generated by

Back 57

wind

Front 58

are periodic, short-term changes in the height of the ocean surface at a particular place caused by a combination of the gravitational force of the moon and sun and the motion of the Earth (its tilt and elliptical orbit). They are the longest of all waves and they are considered shallow waves.

Back 58

tides

Front 59

the moon has __ affect on the sun because it is closer. It takes the moon 24 hours and 50 minutes to around the Earth.

Back 59

more

Front 60

There are three main determining factors in tidal shape:

Back 60

1. land
2. water depth
3. shape of the coast

Front 61

1 high and 1 low tide per day

Back 61

diurnal

Front 62

2 high and 2 low tides per day

Back 62

semi-diurnal

Front 63

When the sun and moon overlap one another, either at a full moon or when there is no moon in the sky, this is called a Spring tide. (occurs at 2 week intervals) diagram:

Back 63

DIAGRAM

Front 64

When the sun and moon are in opposition, at the half moon, this is called a Neap tide.
This creates a right angle between the Earth, sun, and moon(occurs at 2 week intervals). Diagram:

Back 64

DIAGRAM

Front 65

the ___ of a tidal wave is based on ocean depth, and tidal waves act as shallow water waves.

Back 65

speed

Front 66

A __ __ is a high, often breaking wave generated by a tide crest that advances rapidly up an estuary river. Ex: Bay of Fundy, where the tide rushes in. true “tidal wave.”
This high-water to low-water difference is known as the tidal range, and it is 1 ½ feet for the Gulf of Mexico.

Back 66

tidal bore

Front 67

The __ __ is a fixed point in the ocean around which a tide rotates. There is no tide in this area and tide is highest near the shoreline.

Back 67

amphidromic point

Front 68

is a place where fresh and salt water mix. It is dominated by river flow, the tide, and wind movement.

Back 68

estuary

Front 69

There are four types of estuaries:

Back 69

1. drowned river valley
2. fjord (made from glaciers, found only in northern countries)
3. tectonic (ex: San Francisco Bay)
4. bar built

Front 70

Animal that live in estuaries must be ___ meaning that they thrive in brackish waters.

Back 70

stenohaline

Front 71

There are three classifications of coasts:

Back 71

erosional coasts
depostial coasts
deltas

Front 72

here the processes that erode sediment exceed those that deposit.

Back 72

erosional coasts

Front 73

here the processes that deposit sediment exceed those that erode. Ex: Beaches and sand bars

Back 73

deposital coasts

Front 74

a deposit of sediment found at a river mouth

Back 74

deltas

Front 75

Characteristics of Atlantic coasts

Back 75

Atlantic: moderate energy, erosional coast

Front 76

characteristics of pacific coasts

Back 76

Pacific: high energy, rocky intertidal, tidal spray on high cliffs

Front 77

characteristics of gulf coast

Back 77

Gulf coast: very low energy. No wind or tide (diurnal) exception: hurricanes are
errosional

Front 78

are created when fresh water from a river combines with saltier sea water.

Back 78

salt wedges

Front 79

volume of gases, water vapor, and airborne particles enveloping earth

Back 79

atmosphere

Front 80

mass movement of air, helps minimize worldwide extremes of surface temperature

Back 80

wind

Front 81

state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place

Back 81

weather

Front 82

long-term average of weather in an area

Back 82

climate

Front 83

lower atmosphere is nearly homogenous mixture of gasses

Back 83

78.1% nitrogen

20.9% oxygen

Front 84

air is never completely dry, __ __ the gaseous form of water, can occupy as much as 4% its volume

Back 84

water vapor

Front 85

water leaves by condensing into

Back 85

dew, rain or snow

Front 86

how can the evaporation of water from the ocean's surface (and its subsequent condensation in the form of rain) moderate global temperature?

Back 86

about 1 meter of water evaporates each year from the surface o the ocean. the great quantites of solar enegy that cuase thise vaporation are carried rom the ocean yb the escaping water vapor. when a gram of water vapor condenses back into liquid water---usually at a distance form where it evaporated -- the same 540 calories is again available to do work. if the water condenses as precipitation in a cold climate, heat is given off and temperature is moderated

Front 87

how is weather different from climate?

Back 87

weather is the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place; climate is the long-term average of weather in an area

Front 88

the atmosphere and ocean interact with each other

Back 88

the atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, and water vapor

Front 89

the atmosphere moves in response to uneven solar heating and earth's rotation

Back 89

the solar heatin gof earth varies with latitude

the solar heating of earth also varies with the seaons

earth's uneven solar heating results in large-scale atmospheric circulation

the coriolis effect deflects the path of moving objects

the coriolis effect influences the movement of air in atmospheric circulation cells

Front 90

atmosphere circulation generates large-scale surface wind patterns

cell circulation centers on the meterological (not geographical) equator

monsoons are wind patterns that change with the seasons

sea breezes and land breezes arise from uneven surface heating

Back 90

storms are variations in large-scale atmospheric ciruclation

storms form within or between air masses

extratropical cyclones form between two air masses

tropical cyclones form in one air mass

Front 91

the atlantic hurricane season of 2005 was the most destructive ever recorded

Back 91

hurricane katrina was the us's most costly natural disaster

hurricane rita struck soon after

wilma was the most powerful atlantic ever measured

dramatically altered coastal environments

Front 92

what is the composition of air

Back 92

the lower atmosphere is a mixtures of gases, mostly nitrogen and oxygen

Front 93

can more water vapor be held in warm air or cool air

Back 93

pressure being equal, warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air

Front 94

which is denser at the same temperature and pressure: humid air or dry air

Back 94

humid air is less dense than dry at the same temperature, bc molecules of water vapor weigh less than the nitrogen and oxygen molecules that the water vapor displaces

Front 95

how does airs temperature change as it expands? as it is compressed?

Back 95

air becomes cooler when it expands and warms as it is compressed. air descending from high altitude warms as it is compressed by the higher atmospheric pressure near earth's surface

Front 96

what happens when air conditioning water vapor rises?

Back 96

water vapor in rising, expanding, cooling air will often condense into clouds because the cooler air can no longer hold as much water vapor. if rising and cooling continue, hold as much water vapor. if rising and cooling continue, the droplets may coalesce into raindrops or snowflakes

Front 97

what is meant by thermal equilibrium? is earth's heat budget in balance?

Back 97

over long periods of time, the total incoming heat (plus that form earthly sources) equals the total heat radiating into the cold of space; so earth is in thermal equilibrium. some variation is observable over shorter time spans -- the current episode of global warming is an example

Front 98

how does solar heating vary with latitude? with the seasons?

Back 98

near the poles light appraches the surface at a low angle