Oceanography Quiz: Water Cycle & Currents

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

What role do oceans play in the water cycle?

They prevent evaporation
They block rainfall
They increase temperatures
They are the primary water source (correct)

Erosion has no impact on the development of ocean basins.

False (B)

Name one technology used to research the ocean floor.

Sonar

The _____ is the submerged part of the continent between the coast and the edge of the basin.

continental shelf Signup and view all the answers

Match the following ocean research technologies with their descriptions:

Sonar = Used for mapping the ocean floor Core sampling = Extracting soil and sediment samples Underwater photography = Capturing images of marine life Deep sea submersibles = Exploring depths of the ocean Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a significant force of erosion in the development of ocean basins?

Glaciation (D) Signup and view all the answers

Mid-ocean ridges are formed by volcanic eruptions.

True (A) Signup and view all the answers

What do ocean currents refer to?

A large amount of ocean water that moves in a particular and unchanging direction. Signup and view all the answers

What primarily influences the direction of surface currents?

Wind (A) Signup and view all the answers

Deep currents flow in the top 100-200 meters of the ocean.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the Earth's rotation have on ocean currents?

Coriolis effect Signup and view all the answers

_ currents are characterized by cold water, while _ currents are characterized by warm water.

Labrador, Gulf Stream Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of wave to its description:

Swells = Smooth waves caused by wind and storms Breakers = Water that tumbles when a wave collapses onshore Tsunamis = Giant waves caused by earthquakes or landslides Ripples = Small waves set in motion by steady winds Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors increases salinity in seawater?

Evaporation (D) Signup and view all the answers

Tides are solely influenced by ocean currents.

False (B) Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when a wave approaches the shoreline?

Wavelength decreases and wave height increases. Signup and view all the answers

Surface Currents

Water movement in the top 100-200 meters of the ocean, driven by various factors like wind, Earth's rotation, and continental shape.

Deep Currents

Water movement below 200 meters, driven primarily by temperature and salinity differences.

Coriolis Effect

The force that causes the Earth's rotation to deflect moving air and water, creating clockwise deflection in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Salinity

The difference in salt concentration in seawater, affecting the density of water and influencing deep currents.