Physical Oceanography
Practice Test
1.
What can block solar radiation and have a short-term effect on climate?
a.
the wobble of Earth's axis
b.
the ashes in the atmosphere from a volcanic eruption
c.
the intensity of sunspots
d.
the shape of Earth's orbit
2.
If global warming continues too far, which climates shown in the figure will be affected?
a.
tundra
b.
ice cap
c.
arid
d.
all of the above
3.
What type of instrument probably was not used to provide the information in the station model pictured in the figure?
a.
Doppler radar
b.
thermometer
c.
barometer
d.
anemometer
4.
Today, water vapor that is added to Earth's atmosphere is destroyed by __________.
a.
ultraviolet radiation
b.
the ozone hole
c.
the greenhouse effect
d.
X rays
5.
What shape of cloud is being formed in the figure?
a.
cirrus
b.
cumulus
c.
stratus
d.
nimbus
6.
What geologic process released large amounts of water vapor into Earth's early atmosphere?
a.
volcanic eruptions
b.
precipitation as ice, water, or snow
c.
melting of glacial ice
d.
movement of ocean currents
7.
According to the map, which climates are found near the poles?
a.
highlands and uplands
b.
semiarid and arid
c.
tropical wet and tropical dry
d.
tundra and ice caps
8.
What is the average salinity of ocean water?
a.
30 ppt
b.
37 percent
c.
35 ppt
d.
37 ppt
9.
The increase in temperature caused by an increase of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere is called __________.
a.
El Nino
b.
the ozone hole
c.
the greenhouse effect
d.
global warming
10.
What determines the speed of waves in deep water?
a.
surface currents
b.
wave height
c.
wavelength
d.
direction of waves
11.
These graphs compare the average temperature and precipitation of two cities. What is the climate of City Y?
a.
polar
b.
marine west coast
c.
tropical wet and dry
d.
tropical
12.
The climates of coastal zones are affected by __________.
a.
the tropics
b.
the polar zones
c.
orogenic lifting
d.
topographic effects
13.
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
14.
What is a heat island?
a.
a subtropical island
b.
an area where climate is warmer due to concrete and asphalt
c.
an island that is warmer than the surrounding ocean
d.
an area where the climate is colder due to an increase in elevation
15.
Large, rotating, low-pressure storms are called __________.
a.
hail storms
b.
storm surge
c.
tropical cyclones
d.
tornadoes
16.
What type of solid particles play a role in cloud formation?
a.
clay particles
b.
organic particles
c.
extraterrestrial particles
d.
dust and salt particles
17.
Throughout geologic time, Earth has been __________.
a.
always colder then the present
b.
only warmer than the present
c.
warmer and colder than the present
d.
a steady temperature
18.
What type of instrument is used to measure wind speed?
a.
a barometer
b.
a ceilometer
c.
a hygrometer
d.
an anemometer
19.
What are tropical cyclones that form in the Pacific Ocean called?
a.
typhoons
b.
tornadoes
c.
downdrafts
d.
funnel clouds
20.
What do the circles in the figure represent?
a.
bubbles
b.
wavelength
c.
heat energy
d.
water movement
