Unit 1
There is evidence that the earth and the rest of the solar system formed about:
4.5 billion years ago
What are surface currents driven by?
solar heating, wind, Coriolis effect
The Ekman spiral occurs as a result of:
wind
What are tsunamis?
shallow water waves caused by earthquakes
The smallest wind-generated waves are called:
capillary waves
An increase in CO2 in the ocean causes a decrease in:
pH
Downwelling of surface waters to the bottom of the ocean occurs:
with cold, salty water
Fossil fuels, sheep and cattle, rice paddies, and landfills are the main sources of ___________ to the atmosphere.
CH4
A wave has two different types of energy:
potential and kinetic.
What are generating forces for a wave?
wind, earthquakes, landslides, ice breaking off from glaciers
At which temperature is water the densest?
4 °C
The largest percentage of the world ocean is found in the:
southern hemisphere
The main thermocline is located at the zone:
between the warm and cold layers; intermediate layer
Define wavelength.
the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs
_______ are evenly spaced waves with smoothly rounded crests and troughs.
Swells
Why is ocean water salty?
Salt ions are eroded from rock on land
The most biologically rich part of the ocean is the:
continental shelf
What type of winds develop between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south?
trade winds
A(n) _______ force is a force that causes the water surface to go back to its undisturbed state.
restoring
What categorizes a deep water wave?
travels in water deeper than one-half of its wavelength
A trench is formed at a ________ zone.
Subduction
What occurs at the mid-ocean ridge?
Underwater mountain formation, Seafloor spreading, and Transform faults
Tropical cyclones rotate _______ in the Northern Hemisphere and _________ in the Southern Hemisphere.
counterclockwise, clockwise
The speed of shallow water waves depends on:
depth
The most favorable conditions for wave formation occur:
between 40° and 50°S