Multiple Choice 1
Which process most directly causes ocean acidification?
A. Increased ocean temperatures
B. Absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide
C. Overfishing of shellfish
D. Large-scale plastic pollution
B. Absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide
Thermohaline circulation helps regulate climate by:
A. Preventing any ocean movement
B. Transporting heat between equator and poles
C. Stopping storms from forming
D. Increasing the number of fish everywhere
B. Transporting heat between equator and poles
When deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface.
Carbon Sink
Salinity
Heat Capacity
Sea Surface Temperature
Upwelling
Upwelling
A steady flow of ocean water moving in a specific direction.
Density
Current
Thermohaline Circulation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Current
Thermohaline circulation is primarily driven by differences in:
A. Wind speed and direction
B. Water density caused by temperature and salinity
C. Tidal forces from the moon
D. Surface current eddies
B. Water density caused by temperature and salinity
Which factor most directly limits primary productivity in much of the open ocean?
A. High water temperature
B. Low nutrient availability
C. Excess light
D. High biodiversity
B. Low nutrient availability
A place that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide, like the ocean.
Carbon Sink
Salinity
Heat Capacity
Sea Surface Temperature
Upwelling
Carbon Sink
How tightly packed matter is in a substance. In the ocean, denser water sinks below less dense water.
Density
Current
Thermohaline Circulation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Density
Which process returns nutrients to the water column after organisms die?
A. Photosynthesis
B. Evaporation
C. Decomposition
D. Respiration by phytoplankton
C. Decomposition
Which human activity most directly reduces coastal habitats like mangroves and salt marshes?
A. Coastal development and land reclamation
B. Offshore wind farms
C. Deep-sea mining
D. Recreational boating
A. Coastal development and land reclamation
The ability of a substance to store heat
Carbon Sink
Salinity
Heat Capacity
Sea Surface Temperature
Upwelling
Heat Capacity
The process of liquid water turning into water vapor (gas)
Density
Current
Thermohaline Circulation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Evaporation
Why does forming sea ice increase the salinity of the surrounding seawater?
A. Salt is expelled from freezing water and stays in the liquid
B. Ice adds salt to the water
C. Ice lowers water temperature but not salinity
D. Sea ice attracts freshwater from rivers
A. Salt is expelled from freezing water and stays in the liquid
Evaporation from the ocean primarily contributes to which atmospheric process?
A. Decreasing air pressure
B. Reducing wind speed
C. Reflecting sunlight back to space
D. Increasing atmospheric moisture and cloud formation
D. Increasing atmospheric moisture and cloud formation
The amount of salt dissolved in water.
Carbon Sink
Salinity
Heat Capacity
Sea Surface Temperature
Upwelling
Salinity
Water that falls from the atmosphere to Earth, such as rain or snow.
Density
Current
Thermohaline Circulation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Precipitation
Which process brings cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the surface?
A. Downwelling
B. Upwelling
C. Evaporation
D. Condensation
B. Upwelling
Why do coastal areas often have smaller temperature ranges between day and night compared to inland areas?
A. Coastal areas receive more solar radiation
B. The ocean absorbs and releases heat slowly, moderating temperature changes
C. Coastal areas have stronger winds that cool the land
D. The ocean increases the land’s ability to reflect heat
B. The ocean absorbs and releases heat slowly, moderating temperature changes
The temperature of the ocean’s top layer of water.
Carbon Sink
Salinity
Heat Capacity
Sea Surface Temperature
Upwelling
Sea Surface Temperature
The global movement of deep ocean water driven by differences in temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline)
Density
Current
Thermohaline Circulation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Thermohaline Circulation