Oceanography

Question 1

name four areas of the study of oceanography

Answer 1

• geological: structure of the sea floor
• chemical: chem comp and prop of seawater
• physical: waves, tides, currents
• biological: oceanic life forms

Question 2

oceans contain what percentage of the world’s water?

Answer 2

97.2%

Question 3

why study oceanography?

Answer 3

• oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface
• oceans contain 97% of the water on or near the earth’s surface
• ocean conditions dictate terrestrial conditions/weather
• source of food
• transportation and travel
• shoreline- interface between land and ocean

Question 4

who was humboldt?

Answer 4

• german naturalist, contributor in geophysics, meteorology, and oceanography.
• 1800s
• ecologist
• influenced darwin

Question 5

HMS Challenger Expedition

Answer 5

• steam assisted vessel
• 3 year marine exploration, laid foundation for almost every branch of oceanography as we know it today
• Wyville Thompson director of the expidition
• First major scientific expedition
• globe-encircling voyage
• chem/phys/bio measurements and collections
• DISCOVERED MARIANA TRENCH

Question 6

who published the first chart of the gulf stream?

Answer 6

benjamin franklin

Question 7

Meteor Expedition 1925

Answer 7

-introduced modern optical and electronic equipment (echo sounder)
-German
-Surveyed S. Atlantic
Achieved:
-mapping the depth and contours of the seafloor (sonar)
-Measured temp and salinity, vertical dist’n of water mass

Question 8

Glomar Challenger

Answer 8

drill for deep sea sediments

-proved CONTINENTAL DRIFT

Question 9

between which latitudes are water statification more pronounced?

Answer 9

40 AND 40

Question 10

what is the relationship between density, salinity, and pressure?

Answer 10

density increases as temperature decreases as pressure increases

Question 11

why are marine sediments important?

Answer 11

as historical records and a site of natural resources.

-study marine sediments using many different methods, including core samples.

Question 12

what are some effects of oceans currents?

Answer 12

• transfer heat from tropical to polar regions
• influence weather and climate
• distribute nutrients and scatter organisms

Question 13

how does the eckman spiral influence downwelling or upwelling?

Answer 13

drives water towards or away from the coast.

-coriolis deflection of 90 degrees to the direction of the wind

Question 14

what are the 5 wave classifications

Answer 14

• capillary waves
• chop
• swell
• tsunamis
• seiches

Question 15

what are the parts of an ocean wave

Answer 15

• crest
• trough
• height
• amplitude
• length
• period

Question 16

size and type of wave are controlled by what factors?

Answer 16

• wind velocity
• wind duration
• fetch
• original state of sea surface

Question 17

what factors affect wind wave development?

Answer 17

• wind strength
• wind duration
• fetch

Question 18

holoplankton

Answer 18

organisms that are planktonic their entire life cycle

Question 19

meroplankton

Answer 19

planktonic for only part of their life cycles, usually the larval stage

Question 20

why school?

Answer 20

• protection
• as a means of reducing drag while swimming
• to keep reproductively active members of a population together