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Test 2
Ocean Circulation
15
Geology
Undergraduate 2
10/02/2008

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Cards

Term
Waves on the surface of the ocean are mostly created by...
Definition
wind
Term
The distance that wind travels across open water is called the
Definition
Fetch
Term
The wave period refers to...
Definition
The time interval between the passage of two successive crests.
Term
Which of the following statements regarding tsunamis (seismic sea waves) is false?
Definition
Tsunamis are only generated by undersea land slides.
Term
What happens to waves when approaching the shore?
Definition
Wavelengths decrease as the wave crests become more closely spaced.
Term
Which of the following statements regarding waves is false?
Definition
As waves approach the coast, the angle between the wave crests and the shoreline increases.
Term
The height of high tide along a coast varies throughout the month. When is the height of high tide at its lowest?
Definition
When the moon is at right angles to an imaginary line connecting the Earth and Sun
Term
What drives ocean circulation?
Definition
a. Temperature contrasts within ocean water. 0%
b. Compositional differences in ocean water. 0%
c. Density contrasts in ocean water. 0%
d. Wind.
Term
When considering a vertical profile of ocean water, salinity is highest in _____________ water.
Definition
Deep
Term
The North Atlantic and Antarctica are two major sources of...
Definition
Deep Ocean Water
Term
The overall effect of gyres is (are)...
Definition
Clockwise circulation of ocean currents in the northern hemisphere.
Term
Which of the following statements is NOT consistent with the Ekman Spiral?
Definition
Upper layers of surface water are deflected more than lower layers as a result of the Coriolis force.
Term
Which of the following statements regarding downwelling and upwelling is false?
Definition
Downwelling is responsible for bringing deep-water nutrients up to shallower levels along a coastline.
Term
Surface equatorial waters flow ________ while deep polar waters flow _________ in global-scale ocean circulation.
Definition
Towards the poles/towards the equator
Term
How does El Niño differ from La Niña?
Definition
Pacific equatorial waters are warmer during El Niño and cooler during La Niña
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