Climate
Ocean Zones
Currents
Gases & Nutrients
All Mixed Up
100
London is located farther north than New York, but London has a warmer climate than New York. Which statement provides the BEST explanation for this phenomenon?
A. The cold ocean water near New York absorbs heat from the land nearby. The warm ocean water near London releases heat to the land nearby.
B. The cold ocean water near New York releases heat to the land nearby. The warm ocean water near London absorbs heat from the land nearby.
C. The warm ocean water near New York absorbs heat from the land nearby. The cold ocean water near London releases heat to the land nearby.
D. The warm ocean water near New York releases heat to the land nearby. The cold ocean water near London absorbs heat from the land nearby.
A. The cold ocean water near New York absorbs heat from the land nearby. The warm ocean water near London releases heat to the land nearby.
100
In which ocean zone is ocean temperature most affected by the weather?
Photic or uppermost layer
100
Ocean currents are produced by
A. volcanoes on the bottom of the ocean floor.
B. earthquakes on the bottom of the ocean floor.
C. differences in the temperature of the water at different depths.
D. differences in the number of organisms living at different depths.
C. differences in the temperature of the water at different depths.
100
Which provides the largest source of dissolved oxygen in the ocean?
A. coral reefs
B. tidal action
C. algal growth
D. hydrothermal vents
C. algal growth
100
Why does the surface zone of the ocean contain large amounts of oxygen?
A. Upwelling transfers oxygen off the ocean floor to the surface zone.
B. Oxygen slowly seeps out of the ocean floor and accumulates at the surface.
C. Less dense oxygen-rich freshwater settles on top of denser salty ocean water.
D. Higher amounts of sunlight at the ocean surface allow photosynthesis to occur.
D. Higher amounts of sunlight at the ocean surface allow photosynthesis to occur.
200
Why is ocean water warmer near Earth’s equator than at its poles?
A Geothermal energy near the equator is more intense than at the poles.
B Sunlight near the equator is more intense than at the poles.
C More convection occurs near the poles than at the equator.
D More evaporation occurs near the poles than at the equator.
B Sunlight near the equator is more intense than at the poles.
200
In which part of the ocean do the greatest number of organisms live?
A. in the deep zone to escape predators
B. near the shore to burrow in the sand
C. close to the surface to be near the largest food source
D. in the open ocean to regulate their bodies in cooler temperatures
C. close to the surface to be near the largest food source
200
Which does NOT affect deep ocean currents?
A. wind B. salinity C. density D. temperature
A. wind
200
Which best describes the relationship between salinity levels and the amount of dissolved gases in ocean water?
A. As salinity increases, the amount of dissolved gases increases.
B. As salinity increases, the amount of dissolved gases decreases.
C. As salinity decreases, the amount of dissolved gases decreases.
D. As salinity decreases, the amount of dissolved gases remains the same.
B. As salinity increases, the amount of dissolved gases decreases.
200
Which is most likely to be the energy source for organisms living in hydrothermal vents?
A. oxygen B. sunlight C. methane D. carbon dioxide
C. methane
300
Which choice best describes an effect of this change in CO2?
A The change in CO2 has increased the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere; this has increased the temperature of oceans.
B The change in CO2 has decreased the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere; this has decreased the temperature of oceans.
C The change in CO2 has increased the size of the ozone hole over the Antarctic; this has increased the temperature of oceans.
D The change in CO2 has decreased the size of the ozone hole over the Antarctic; this has decreased the temperature of oceans.
A The change in CO2 has increased the amount of heat trapped in the atmosphere; this has increased the temperature of oceans.
300
Phytoplankton are the primary producers found in which zone of the ocean?
Photic/Uppermost Zone
300
Which of the following has the biggest effect on deep ocean currents?
A. tides and salinity
B. temperature and wind
C. tides and wind
D. temperature and salinity
D. temperature and salinity
300
Which are the two most abundant dissolved gases in ocean water?
oxygen and carbon dioxide
300
Which is the most likely reason plant ecosystems are found only in shallow ocean waters instead of deep ocean environments?
A. Plants prefer nutrient-poor environments near the coast.
B. There are too many plant-eating organisms in deeper water.
C. The temperature of the deep ocean is too cool for plants to grow.
D. Plants need sunlight to grow and sunlight does not penetrate deep ocean waters.
D. Plants need sunlight to grow and sunlight does not penetrate deep ocean waters.
400
How do ocean currents generally affect the climate of coastal regions compared to the interior of continents at the same latitude?
a) Coastal regions tend to have more extreme temperature variations.
b) Coastal regions tend to have milder temperatures.
c) Coastal regions tend to have less precipitation.
d) Coastal regions tend to have stronger winds.
b) Coastal regions tend to have milder temperatures.
400
Which describes the conditions life forms must adapt to in deep ocean environments?
A. They must adapt to low temperatures, low salinity, and no sunlight.
B. They must adapt to high temperatures, low salinity, and no sunlight.
C. They must adapt to low temperatures, high salinity, and no sunlight.
D. They must adapt to high temperatures, high salinity, and no sunlight.
C. They must adapt to low temperatures, high salinity, and no sunlight.
400
Vertical movement in ocean water can cause horizontal movement, such as in ocean currents. One way vertical movement occurs is when dense water sinks. Choose the correct statement that explains the relationship between the temperature, salinity, and density of water.
A. Lower temperature and higher salinity make the water more dense, causing it to sink.
B. Lower temperature and lower salinity make the water more dense, causing it to sink.
C. Higher temperatures and higher salinity make the water more dense, causing it to sink.
D. Higher temperatures and lower salinity make the water more dense, causing it to sink.
A. Lower temperature and higher salinity make the water more dense, causing it to sink.
400
How does upwelling affect biodiversity?
A. It increases biodiversity by increasing nutrients at the surface.
B. It decreases biodiversity by increasing nutrients at the surface.
C. It increases biodiversity by decreasing nutrients at the surface.
D. It decreases biodiversity by decreasing nutrients at the surface.
A. It increases biodiversity by increasing nutrients at the surface.
400
How does upwelling provide the needed materials to support life forms?
A. Upwelling brings nutrients from the ocean floor to organisms at the ocean surface.
B. Upwelling moves oxygen from the deep ocean to life at the surface of the ocean.
C. Upwelling transfers heat produced by hydrothermal vents to surface organisms.
D. Upwelling redistributes salinity levels between the deep ocean and the surface.
A. Upwelling brings nutrients from the ocean floor to organisms at the ocean surface.
500
Which statement best explains how the Gulf Stream affects the climate of North Carolina?
A The Gulf Stream pulls warm water from the north, making temperatures warmer during the winter and bringing more precipitation to the state.
B The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the south, making temperatures warmer during the winter and bringing more precipitation to the state.
C The Gulf Stream pushes winds eastward across the United States, preventing precipitation within the state.
D The Gulf Stream pushes wind westward across the ocean, making temperatures much cooler within the state.
B The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the south, making temperatures warmer during the winter and bringing more precipitation to the state.
500
Which best describes the shallow water ocean zone?
A. The long water column protects small organisms from being eaten by large predators.
B. Cooler water temperatures cause a decrease in dissolved oxygen needed by organisms.
C. Sunlight penetration increases algae growth and provides food for a variety of organisms.
D. Hydrothermal vents provide heat and dissolved minerals needed by some organisms to survive.
C. Sunlight penetration increases algae growth and provides food for a variety of organisms.
500
Choose the correct statement that describes the relationship between Earth's rotation and the ocean currents.
A. Earth rotates from east to west. This causes the ocean currents to turn left in the Northern hemisphere and to turn right in the Southern hemisphere.
B. Earth rotates from west to east. This causes the ocean currents to turn right in the Northern hemisphere and to turn left in the Southern hemisphere.
C. Earth rotates from east to west. This causes the ocean currents to turn right in the Northern hemisphere and to turn left in the Southern hemisphere.
D. Earth rotates from west to east. This causes the ocean currents to turn left in the Northern hemisphere and to turn right in the Southern hemisphere.
B. Earth rotates from west to east. This causes the ocean currents to turn right in the Northern hemisphere and to turn left in the Southern hemisphere.
500
How do estuaries provide a healthy habitat for breeding marine life and plants?
A. The brackish water is constantly being removed to protect the animals and plants.
B. The rivers deposit sediments that are rich with nutrients.
C. The area is void of excess sunlight and wind.
D. The temperature remains constant.
B. The rivers deposit sediments that are rich with nutrients.
500
Why can the majority of the mineral nutrients be found underneath the ocean floor?
A. Hydrothermal vents release minerals deep into the ocean floor.
B. Deep water plants deposit minerals into the ocean floor through their roots.
C. Organic debris and minerals sink to the ocean floor and get covered in sediment creating rich deposits.
D. Photosynthetic organisms leave behind minerals that accumulate and form deposits in the ocean floor’s layers.
C. Organic debris and minerals sink to the ocean floor and get covered in sediment creating rich deposits.