Ocean Currents and Waves Quiz
32 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which factors influence surface currents?

  • Wave height, Moon phase, Iceberg presence
  • Wind, Earth rotation, Shape of continents (correct)
  • Salinity, Deep water pressure, Ocean depth
  • Temperature, Soil Composition, Sunlight

What effect does the rotation of the Earth have on currents?

  • It causes air density to increase.
  • It deflects winds and currents based on their location relative to the equator. (correct)
  • It prevents surface currents from forming.
  • It causes currents to flow faster in the Northern Hemisphere.

What is the primary reason deep water currents are influenced?

  • Waves and tides
  • Water temperature and salinity (correct)
  • Wind speed and direction
  • Earth's rotation and continental shapes

What happens to waves as they approach the shoreline?

<p>The wavelength decreases and wave height increases. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes breakers from swells?

<p>Breakers collapse onshore; swells are caused by distant winds. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes tides?

<p>They are related to the motion of the moon and the spinning of the Earth. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are tsunamis primarily caused by?

<p>Earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does salinity affect ocean water?

<p>Lower salinity occurs where freshwater enters from rivers. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do oceans play in the water cycle?

<p>They are the main source of evaporation. (C), They control weather patterns. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process contributed to the formation of ocean basins?

<p>Erosion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do tectonic plates influence ocean systems?

<p>They determine the location of ocean basins. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technology is commonly used for underwater exploration?

<p>Sonar (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a feature of the continental margin?

<p>Oceanic trench (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of abyssal plains?

<p>They are formed from thick sediment deposits. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one major function of ocean currents?

<p>To transport nutrients and heat. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What natural event can lead to the release of water vapor that contributes to the oceans?

<p>Volcanic action (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily causes the movement of surface currents in the ocean?

<p>Wind patterns (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the shape of the Earth's continents affect ocean currents?

<p>It causes moving currents to redirect when they meet solid surfaces. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of deep water currents?

<p>Driven by differences in temperature and salinity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a breaker wave compared to a swell wave?

<p>Breakers occur near the shore while swells occur in open water. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors primarily affects the salinity of ocean water?

<p>Evaporation rates and the input of freshwater (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Coriolis effect responsible for in relation to ocean currents?

<p>It causes currents to deflect differently in each hemisphere. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon is associated with the rise and fall of ocean water levels?

<p>Tides (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are tsunamis primarily characterized by?

<p>They are large waves caused by underwater disturbances. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary roles of oceans in the ecosystem?

<p>Serving as a primary water source for the water cycle (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which process contributes to the shaping of ocean basins and the creation of the ocean floor?

<p>Volcanic action (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a technology used for underwater exploration?

<p>Sonar (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the continental slope?

<p>It is a steep drop-off after the continental shelf. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of erosion in ocean systems?

<p>To aid in developing continental drainage systems (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do glaciers contribute to the ocean systems?

<p>By moving materials towards the oceans (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of mid-ocean ridges?

<p>They are formed by tectonic plate separation and volcanic eruptions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is involved in ocean research in Canada?

<p>Environment Canada (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Continental Shelf

The submerged part of a continent that extends from the shoreline to the edge of a basin.

Continental Slope

The steep slope that marks the transition from the continental shelf to the deep ocean floor.

Abyssal Plain

A wide, flat expanse of the ocean floor, typically covered with sediments.

Mid-Ocean Ridge

Undersea mountain ranges formed by volcanic eruptions along areas where tectonic plates pull apart.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Ocean Current

A large volume of seawater that flows in a consistent direction, influenced by factors like wind, temperature, and salinity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Sonar

A technology that uses sound waves to map the ocean floor.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Deep Sea Submersibles

Specialized underwater vehicles designed for deep-sea exploration.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Core Sampling

A technique used to collect samples of sediment from the ocean floor.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Surface Currents

The movement of water in the top 100-200 meters of the ocean, driven by factors such as wind, Earth's rotation, and the shape of continents.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Deep Currents

Ocean currents that flow below 200 meters, influenced primarily by water temperature and salinity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Wind

The uneven heating of the Earth's surface creates air movement. This moving air transfers energy to the water through friction, causing it to move.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Earth Rotation (Coriolis Effect)

The Earth's rotation deflects the direction of winds and currents due to inertia. This effect is called the Coriolis effect, causing currents to turn clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Shape of Continents

The shape of continents, particularly their landmasses, can block or redirect surface currents, influencing their flow patterns.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Water Temperature

Cold water is denser than warm water, causing deep water currents to flow. This difference in density is driven by varying water temperatures.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Salinity

The saltiness of seawater varies depending on freshwater input from rivers, glaciers, and precipitation. Evaporation and freezing increase salinity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Waves

Large ripples on the ocean surface caused by steady winds, transferring energy from the air to the water.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are surface currents?

The movement of ocean water in the top 100-200 meters, primarily driven by wind, Earth's rotation, and continental shapes.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are deep ocean currents?

The movement of ocean water below 200 meters, influenced mainly by differences in water temperature and salinity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What is the Coriolis Effect?

The force that causes winds and currents to turn due to the Earth's rotation.

Signup and view all the flashcards

How do continents influence surface currents?

The turning of ocean currents when they hit landmasses, changing their direction.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are tsunamis and what causes them?

Large waves generated by earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions near the ocean floor.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are tides?

The cyclical rise and fall of sea levels, primarily driven by the gravitational pull of the moon and the Earth's rotation.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are swells?

The slow, smooth waves caused by distant winds and storms out at sea.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are breakers?

The breaking of waves as they approach the shore, creating the 'crash' at the beach.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Erosion's role in ocean formation

The process of breaking down rocks and other materials, transporting them, and depositing them into ocean basins, contributing to the formation of the ocean floor.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Volcanic action and ocean formation

The process of magma (molten rock) rising to the Earth's surface, releasing water vapor that eventually condenses and forms oceans, contributing significantly to the creation of ocean basins.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are abyssal plains?

Vast, flat plains on the ocean floor, formed by layers of sediment deposited over millions of years.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are mid-ocean ridges?

Long, undersea mountain chains created when tectonic plates pull apart, allowing magma to rise and form new ocean floor.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are ocean currents?

Large bodies of moving ocean water following a specific, constant direction.

Signup and view all the flashcards

What are deep currents?

Ocean currents driven by differences in water density (temperature and salinity), flowing deeper below the surface.

Signup and view all the flashcards

How does sonar work?

A technology that uses sound waves to create images of the ocean floor, enabling scientists to map its features and understand its composition.

Signup and view all the flashcards

More Like This

Ocean Currents and Waves Quiz
16 questions

Ocean Currents and Waves Quiz

FastestGrowingAnaphora7154 avatar
FastestGrowingAnaphora7154
Ocean Water Dynamics and Wave Characteristics
48 questions

Ocean Water Dynamics and Wave Characteristics

IndebtedHolmium4763 avatar
IndebtedHolmium4763
Waves and Ocean Currents
8 questions

Waves and Ocean Currents

LucrativeObsidian7915 avatar
LucrativeObsidian7915
Waves, Ocean Currents, and El Nino
8 questions

Waves, Ocean Currents, and El Nino

LucrativeObsidian7915 avatar
LucrativeObsidian7915
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser