Tides
Currents
Thermohaline Circulation
ENSO (El Niño and La Niña)
Miscellaneous
100
True or False: Earth's gravity has a STRONG impact on the tides.
False. Earth's gravity has no measurable effect on tides. Rather, they are caused by the Moon's and Sun's gravitational forces.
100
Why does the Coriolis Effect occur?
It occurs as a result of the Earth spinning on its axis.
100
Thermohaline regulation is another name for what phenomenon?
The Global Ocean Conveyor Belt
100
During normal ENSO conditions, what temperature is the water in the Eastern Pacific?
Water temperatures are cool, climate is dry, and upwelling is strong.
100
Coral bleaching occurs because of changes in:
temperature
200
During what lunar (moon) phase would we expect to see the HIGHEST high tides of the month?
New Moon
200
True or False: the Sun and Moon have a LARGE impact in driving ocean currents.
False. Ocean currents are driven by the Coriolis Force, changes in salinity and temperature, and winds.
200
Draw a horizontal line through your whiteboard. Label where salt water and fresh water would be in this halocline.
200
True or False: during a La Niña event, trade winds are weaker than usual.
False. During La Niña, trade winds are stronger than usual, pushing warm water further away from the eastern Pacific.
200
Name two (2) things that can be done to help coral reefs!
Answers will vary
300
Calculate the tidal range for the image below:
20.5 - 5 = 15.5 ft tidal range
300
True or False: Currents carrying water AWAY from the equator are COOL in temperature.
False!
300
Draw a horizontal line through your whiteboard. Label where warm water and cold water would be. What do we call this layer?
Thermocline = where warm and cool waters meet
300
During which ENSO event would the Southwestern United States experience some relief from its typical drought-like conditions?
El Niño
300
True or False: cloud formation occurs more over COOL water.
False! Warmer waters lead to increased evaporation rates, more cloud formation, and more precipitation (rain).
400
What type of tide is shown in the models below?
Spring tide
400
Along which coast of the United States does the Gulf Stream flow?
The East Coast!
400
Thermo = ?
Haline = ?
Thermo = heat
Haline = salinity
400
Which ENSO event does this map represent?
La Niña (even stronger trade winds)
400
What SpongeBob song is Ms. McColl walking down the aisle to at her beach wedding in June?
F.U.N.
500
Draw a simple tide chart and label a flood tide, ebb tide, and slack tide. You may use this template to help you!
500
What does upwelling do and where/how does it occur?
Hint: What temperature is the water -- and what does the water have in it?
Upwelling brings COLD, nutrient-rich waters to the surface. Generally occurs along windy coastlines and underwater seamounts.
500
WHERE and WHY does the Global Ocean Conveyor Belt begin? What drives it?
The Global Conveyor belt begins with DOWNWELLING in the Northern Atlantic. It is driven by differences in DENSITY due to changes in temperature and salinity.
500
Describe conditions for water temperature, climate, upwelling and fishing in the Eastern Pacific during an El Niño event.
Waters are warm, wet conditions, lack of upwelling, poor fishing.
500
What is Ms. McColl's favourite marine organism?
Giant Kelp! Macrocystis pyrifera
