Physical Oceanography
Practice Test
1.
What type of technology is used to map the ocean floor?
a.
UV radiation
b.
GPS
c.
submarines
d.
sonar
2.
What is one source of sodium ions found in the ocean?
a.
the shells of marine organisms
b.
ultraviolet radiation
c.
evaporation
d.
volcanic gases
3.
Which current shown in the map brings warm water to the east coast of the U.S.?
a.
North Atlantic Current
b.
Canary Current
c.
Equatorial Countercurrent
d.
Gulf Stream
4.
When the Moon, Earth, and Sun are aligned, large tidal ranges called __________ occur.
a.
tidal ranges
b.
full tides
c.
neap tides
d.
spring tides
5.
What is the difference between low and high tide called?
a.
full moon
b.
neap tide
c.
tidal range
d.
riptide
6.
When did the first modern oceanographic expedition occur?
a.
early 1800s
b.
late 1800s
c.
1500s
d.
early 1950s
7.
What do the circles in the figure represent?
a.
wavelength
b.
heat energy
c.
bubbles
d.
water movement
8.
According to the graph, which salt is the most abundant in sea water?
sodium chloride (NaCl)
23.48 g
magnesium chloride (MgCl
2
)
4.98 g
sodium sulphate(Na
2
SO
4
)
3.92 g
calcium chloride (CaCl
2
)
1.10 g
potassium chloride (KCl )
0.66 g
sodium nicarbonate (NaHCO
3
)
0.19 g
potassium bromide (KBr)
0.10 g
a.
potassium bromide
b.
sodium chloride
c.
magnesium chloride
d.
sodium sulfate
9.
During relatively warm times of Earth's geologic history, the volume of glacial ice was __________ and sea level was __________.
a.
high, high
b.
high, low
c.
low, low
d.
low, high
10.
What is the average salinity of ocean water?
a.
35 ppt
b.
37 percent
c.
30 ppt
d.
37 ppt
11.
What determines the speed of waves in deep water?
a.
wave height
b.
direction of waves
c.
surface currents
d.
wavelength
12.
How are seas different from oceans?
a.
Seas are smaller and mostly landlocked.
b.
Seas are deeper and in lower latitudes.
c.
seas are larger.
d.
Seas support a wider variety of marine life.
13.
The velocity of sound in water is __________.
a.
1,000,000 m/s
b.
1454 m/s
c.
4500 m/s
d.
140 m/s
14.
The density of seawater is dependent on __________.
a.
salinity and temperature
b.
salinity only
c.
temperature only
d.
temperature and currents
15.
What is the densest and coldest water mass of all Earth's oceans?
a.
Antarctic intermediate water
b.
North Atlantic deep water
c.
Antarctic bottom water
d.
Gulf Stream
