W3-2 (2) Ocean circulation

During the Nansen's Fram Expedition, icebergs were observed to drift at an angle to the prevailing wind direction. Which statement offers the most comprehensive explanation for this phenomenon, considering fluid dynamics and geophysical factors?

Consider a scenario where a research vessel is equipped to measure the vertical profile of ocean currents with extremely high precision. If the vessel is located in the Northern Hemisphere, in an open ocean area, and the wind has been blowing consistently from the north for an extended period, what would you anticipate observing in the vertical current profile concerning the Ekman spiral?

Consider a parcel of water moving along a line of constant latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. Which statement accurately synthesizes the effects of the Coriolis force on this parcel?

In the context of large-scale ocean circulation, how do wind patterns and subsequent surface currents fundamentally influence areas of convergence and divergence?

Given the interconnected nature of Earth's systems, which statement most accurately describes the multifaceted role of ocean surface currents in global climate regulation?

Assuming a steady-state Ekman layer in the Northern Hemisphere, where the wind stress is uniform and constant, and further assuming that the vertical eddy viscosity is also constant, what can be definitively stated about the net (integrated) water transport within the Ekman layer?

Considering a high-resolution ocean model that precisely simulates the vertical structure of ocean currents, what key differences would you expect to observe when comparing the Ekman spiral in a deep, open-ocean setting versus a shallow coastal environment?

In a hypothetical scenario, Earth’s rotation rate is significantly increased. Assuming all other factors remain constant, how would this change most directly impact the magnitude and direction of the Coriolis force, and what would be its subsequent effect on large-scale ocean circulation patterns?

Considering an idealized ocean basin bounded by a straight coastline along its eastern edge in the Northern Hemisphere, and assuming a spatially uniform wind blowing parallel to the coast (i.e., longshore winds), which process is most likely to induce coastal upwelling, and what oceanographic conditions would result?

The presented diagrams depict surface wind patterns across the globe. How do these wind patterns interact with the major ocean basins to generate the observed patterns of surface currents, and what primary mechanisms govern the relationship between wind stress and ocean current direction?

Considering observed chlorophyll-a concentration distributions, what conclusion can be reliably drawn regarding the relationship between surface gyre dynamics and primary productivity in oceanic ecosystems?

What second-order effect primarily modulates the intensity of coastal upwelling systems induced by alongshore winds and offshore Ekman transport in the Northern Hemisphere?

In the context of the solubility pump mechanism within the ocean carbon cycle, which scenario would most substantially reduce the efficiency of CO2 sequestration in deep ocean waters?

Considering the dynamics of anthropogenic CO2 uptake by the ocean over the past century, what feedback loop primarily governs the long-term saturation capacity of the ocean's ability to absorb additional CO2?

How would a substantial reduction in the temperature gradient between the equator and the poles most directly influence global patterns of wind-driven circulation and Ekman transport?

If the Earth's albedo were to significantly decrease, leading to greater absorption of solar radiation, how would this most directly impact the strength and spatial distribution of the subtropical gyres?

In a future scenario where significant geoengineering efforts involve large-scale ocean iron fertilization, what unintended consequence could most severely compromise the ocean's capacity to act as a long-term carbon sink?

Considering the interplay between Ekman transport and thermohaline circulation, which perturbation would most dramatically alter the nutrient supply to the euphotic zone in the North Atlantic, thereby affecting regional primary productivity?

What specific alteration within the mesopelagic zone would most profoundly impair the efficiency of the biological carbon pump, thereby diminishing long-term carbon sequestration in the deep ocean?

Considering the information provided regarding ocean garbage patches, what intervention would most effectively address the long-term accumulation of microplastics within subtropical gyres, assuming current technological constraints?