Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary driver of the vertical water motions within the surface layer of the ocean?
What is the primary driver of the vertical water motions within the surface layer of the ocean?
- Horizontal movement of surface waters
- Density changes due to temperature and salinity
- Evaporation and precipitation
- Kinetic energy transfer from the wind (correct)
What is the main reason that the gyres in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres rotate in opposite directions?
What is the main reason that the gyres in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres rotate in opposite directions?
- The ocean basins have different shapes and sizes in the two hemispheres
- The density differences between the surface and deep waters are reversed
- The Coriolis effect acts in opposite directions in the two hemispheres (correct)
- The trade winds and westerlies change direction between the hemispheres
How do the wind-driven surface currents impact climate?
How do the wind-driven surface currents impact climate?
- They determine the location of major ocean upwelling zones
- They control the rate of ocean-atmosphere heat exchange
- They influence the distribution of precipitation and temperature
- All of the above (correct)
What is the primary mechanism by which the ocean and atmosphere exchange energy and matter?
What is the primary mechanism by which the ocean and atmosphere exchange energy and matter?
How does the thermohaline circulation impact the residence time of deep ocean water?
How does the thermohaline circulation impact the residence time of deep ocean water?
What is the primary cause of the Coriolis effect?
What is the primary cause of the Coriolis effect?
Which type of eddy is characterized by a warmer and higher center?
Which type of eddy is characterized by a warmer and higher center?
In which direction does air circulation occur for low-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere?
In which direction does air circulation occur for low-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere?
What is the primary factor that determines the residence time of deep water in the ocean?
What is the primary factor that determines the residence time of deep water in the ocean?
How do eddies in the ocean relate to atmospheric weather systems?
How do eddies in the ocean relate to atmospheric weather systems?
What is the primary cause of the thermohaline circulation?
What is the primary cause of the thermohaline circulation?
How do wind-driven surface currents impact climate?
How do wind-driven surface currents impact climate?
What is the main reason that the gyres in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres rotate in opposite directions?
What is the main reason that the gyres in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres rotate in opposite directions?
What is the primary cause of gyres in the Earth's oceans?
What is the primary cause of gyres in the Earth's oceans?
Which of the following currents is part of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
Which of the following currents is part of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
What is the approximate area occupied by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
What is the approximate area occupied by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
What is the direction of rotation for the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
What is the direction of rotation for the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
What is the name given to the accumulation of marine debris found within the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
What is the name given to the accumulation of marine debris found within the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre?
Which of the following factors determine the circulation patterns of gyres?
Which of the following factors determine the circulation patterns of gyres?
How do wind-driven surface currents impact climate?
How do wind-driven surface currents impact climate?
What is the primary driving force behind the Gulf Stream?
What is the primary driving force behind the Gulf Stream?
Which of the following is a potential impact of the Gulf Stream on climate?
Which of the following is a potential impact of the Gulf Stream on climate?
What is the approximate rate at which the Gulf Stream transports water through the Florida Straits?
What is the approximate rate at which the Gulf Stream transports water through the Florida Straits?
Which of the following ocean currents is stronger than the Gulf Stream?
Which of the following ocean currents is stronger than the Gulf Stream?
What is the main impact of El Niño on the weather in the central United States?
What is the main impact of El Niño on the weather in the central United States?
Which of the following best describes the general pattern of water circulation in the North Atlantic?
Which of the following best describes the general pattern of water circulation in the North Atlantic?
How does El Niño affect the fishing industry off the coast of Peru?
How does El Niño affect the fishing industry off the coast of Peru?
What is the approximate residence time of deep water in the Pacific Ocean?
What is the approximate residence time of deep water in the Pacific Ocean?
Where does the oldest water in the global ocean conveyor belt upwell?
Where does the oldest water in the global ocean conveyor belt upwell?
Which of the following statements about the Mediterranean Sea is true?
Which of the following statements about the Mediterranean Sea is true?
