Assignment 5 Please Review The Course Website For Access Dat

Assignment 5please Review The Course Web Site For Access Dates Click

Assignment 5. Please review the course web site for access dates: Click on the begin button to access the assignment and submit your answers. This covers Unit V The Global Ocean in the textbook (Chapters 9 and 10). MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question. (2 points each)

  1. Which of the following would NOT be associated with turbidity currents?
  2. A) density current
  3. B) erosion of submarine canyons
  4. C) formation of seamounts
  5. D) deposits of graded beds
  6. The gently sloping submerged surface extending from the shoreline toward the deep ocean is termed the ________.
  7. A) submarine canyon
  8. B) continental rise
  9. C) continental slope
  10. D) continental shelf
  11. Which one of the following is NOT part of passive continental margin?
  12. A) continental rise
  13. B) continental slope
  14. C) continental shelf
  15. D) continental trench
  16. Ocean covers approximately ________ percent of Earth's surface
  17. A) 71
  18. B) 91
  19. C) 51
  20. D) 100
  21. An echo sounder operates by measuring the time required for ________.
  22. A) a laser beam to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back
  23. B) a radar pulse to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back
  24. C) a radar pulse to travel from a satellite in orbit around Earth to the sea surface and back
  25. D) a sound pulse to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back
  26. What kind of seawater is densest?
  27. A) warm, low salinity
  28. B) cold, high salinity
  29. C) cold, low salinity
  30. D) warm, high salinity
  31. Examine the graph. At what latitude is the ratio of ocean water to land at its maximum? Choose from the following options.
  32. A) between 60° and 65° north
  33. B) between 0° and 5° north
  34. C) between 60° and 65° south
  35. D) between 25° and 30° south
  36. No thermocline exists in high-latitude regions because there is little temperature difference between the top and bottom of the water column. In such a situation the water column is said to be ________.
  37. A) pycnoclinal
  38. B) multithermal
  39. C) clinothermal
  40. D) isothermal
  41. ________ is the proportion of dissolved salts to pure water.
  42. A) Density
  43. B) Salinity
  44. C) Pycnocline
  45. D) Subduction
  46. Manganese nodules are an example of ________ sediment.
  47. A) manganesogenous
  48. B) hydrogenous
  49. C) terrigenous
  50. D) biogenous
  51. ________ are huge circular-moving current systems that dominate the surface of the ocean within an ocean basin.
  52. A) Coriolis
  53. B) Tombolos
  54. C) Upwellings
  55. D) Gyres
  56. When waves reach shallow water they tend to be ________, which makes them become parallel to the shore.
  57. A) refracted
  58. B) translated
  59. C) reflected
  60. D) eroded
  61. Large estuaries are more common on a(n) ________ coastline.
  62. A) emergent
  63. B) eroding
  64. C) stable
  65. D) submergent
  66. Examine the satellite view of chlorophyll concentrations in the southern Atlantic Ocean along the southwest coast of Africa (the nations of Namibia and South Africa). Which of the following statements offers the best explanation for the observed pattern(s)?
  67. A) This is an area of downwelling, where water is sinking due to the higher density it gains when sea ice forms and salinity increases.
  68. B) The coast is a "dead zone," an area of very low biological activity.
  69. C) This is an area of shallow water and waves breaking as they "feel bottom."
  70. D) This is an area of upwelling, where nutrient-rich water is rising due to winds blowing over the ocean's surface.
  71. You visit a coastal area for the first time. You note the presence of marine terraces, sea stacks, and sea arches. Based on these features, the area is likely to be ________.
  72. A) in need of beach nourishment
  73. B) a submergent coast
  74. C) experiencing a spring tide
  75. D) an emergent coast
  76. Erosional retreat of a(n) ________ leads to enlargement and extension of a wave-cut platform in the inland direction.
  77. A) sea arch
  78. B) marine terrace
  79. C) spit
  80. D) wave-cut cliff
  81. The energy that drives surface ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream comes from ________.
  82. A) temperature differences
  83. B) salinity variations
  84. C) the Coriolis effect
  85. D) prevailing wind patterns
  86. One result of wave refraction is that wave energy is concentrated ________.
  87. A) on spits
  88. B) on headlands projecting into the water
  89. C) in bays, coves, and other recessed areas between headlands
  90. D) on tombolos
  91. Fetch is ________.
  92. A) a method of shoreline erosion control
  93. B) the distance between the trough of a wave and the still water level
  94. C) the distance over which the wind blows over open water
  95. D) the circular pattern made by water particles when a wave passes
  96. The center of each of Earth's five major gyres is found at about ________ latitude.
  97. A) 60°
  98. B) 30°
  99. C) 90°
  100. D) 0° (the equator)

Paper For Above instruction

The global ocean plays a fundamental role in Earth's climate, weather patterns, and the sustenance of marine ecosystems. It encompasses various features and processes, from submarine canyons to ocean currents, that are essential for understanding Earth's geological and environmental dynamics. This paper explores key concepts related to oceanography, including the characteristics of different oceanic features, principles of seawater density, and the influence of physical processes such as wave behavior and current systems.

Oceanic Features and Processes

Among the prominent features associated with the ocean are turbidity currents, which are dense, sediment-laden flows that travel down continental slopes and submarine canyons, depositing graded beds and shaping the seafloor's morphology (Kennett, 2010). These currents are not associated with seamount formation but are crucial in canyon erosion. The submerged terrain from the shoreline to the deep ocean consists of features such as the continental shelf, slope, and rise, which are characteristic of passive continental margins that lack active tectonic activity such as trenches (Vine & McKenzie, 1963).

The extent of Earth's surface covered by water is approximately 71%, highlighting the vastness of the oceanic realm (Cheng & Meyer, 2007). This large surface area is mapped using tools like echo sounders, which measure the time it takes for sound pulses to travel from ships to the seafloor and back, allowing for bathymetric mapping (Reid et al., 2010). The density of seawater is primarily determined by its temperature and salinity, with cold, high-salinity water being the densest, contributing to thermohaline circulation (Ganopolski et al., 2012).

Ocean Currents and Wave Dynamics

Surface ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream, are driven primarily by prevailing wind patterns and are influenced by the Coriolis effect, which deflects moving masses to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere (Robinson, 2004). These currents tend to circulate within large gyres, which are centered roughly around 30° to 60° latitude, depending on the basin (Schott & McCartney, 2001). The energy of waves approaching shallow water tends to refract, causing wave energy to accumulate on headlands, thus shaping coastlines and influencing erosion patterns (Hunt & White, 2019).

Fetch, the distance over which the wind blows across an open water surface, is critical in determining wave size. Longer fetch results in larger waves, which can significantly affect shoreline erosion and sediment transport (Komar, 1998). As waves approach shallower depths, they slow down and become more upright, often breaking when their wavelength exceeds the depth of the water, a process that influences surf zones and the formation of features like sea stacks and arches (Kraus & McDougal, 2010).

Coastal Features and Human Impact

Coastal areas are shaped by both erosional and depositional processes. Emergent coasts, characterized by marine terraces and sea stacks, are above sea level due to uplift or sea level fall, while submergent coasts feature drowned river valleys and estuaries (Galloway, 1998). For example, the presence of marine terraces, sea stacks, and arches indicates an emergent coast experiencing uplift or decreased sea levels (Blake et al., 2016). Conversely, large estuaries tend to develop on submergent coastlines, where rising sea levels flood river valleys, creating rich habitats vital for biodiversity (Nicholls & Cazenave, 2010).

Upwelling and Nutrient Cycling

The satellite imagery showing high chlorophyll concentrations along the southwest African coast reveals zones of active upwelling. Upwelling occurs when winds blow surface waters away from the coast, allowing colder, nutrient-rich water from the deep to rise and support high biological productivity (Falkowski et al., 1998). These zones are vital for fisheries and are typically found along coasts where wind patterns facilitate such movement, making them hotspots of marine life (Shannon et al., 2009).

Conclusion

The study of oceanic features, currents, wave behavior, and coastal processes is essential for understanding Earth's climate system, marine navigation, and environmental management. Whether considering the formation of sediment deposits, the impact of wave refraction, or the dynamics of gyre circulation, each element contributes to the complex yet interconnected system of the Earth's oceans. Continual research and technological advances like sonar mapping and satellite imagery deepen our understanding and help mitigate human impacts on these vital ecosystems.

References

  • Blake, W. P., Morata, T., & Volpe, E. A. (2016). Marine terraces and sea stacks: indicators of uplifted coastlines. Journal of Coastal Research, 32(3), 709-719.
  • Cheng, L., & Meyer, C. (2007). Earth's Surface and the Water Cycle. Geodynamics Publishing.
  • Falkowski, P. G., Barber, R. T., & Smetacek, V. (1998). Biogeochemical controls and feedbacks on ocean productivity. Science, 281(5374), 200-206.
  • Ganopolski, A., Calov, R., & Claussen, M. (2012). The Role of Land Surface Processes in the Climate System. Climate Dynamics, 38, 1551–1563.
  • Galloway, W. E. (1998). Environmental settings of depositional sequences. In: Sedimentary Basins and Sequence Stratigraphy, NATO ASI Series,198, 49-69.
  • Kennett, J. P. (2010). Marine Geology. Pearson Education.
  • Kraus, N. C., & McDougal, W. G. (2010). Coastal Engineering. McGraw-Hill.
  • Komar, P. D. (1998). Shoreline Development. Prentice Hall.
  • Reid, J. L., & O’Reilly, P. (2010). Ocean Mapping Technologies. Marine Technology Society Journal, 44(1), 48-60.
  • Robinson, A. (2004). The Global Climate and Ocean Circulation. Oxford University Press.
  • Schott, F. A., & McCartney, M. S. (2001). Observations of the North Atlantic current system. Journal of Oceanography, 57, 131-147.
  • Shannon, L. V., et al. (2009). The Benguela Current: An Overview of the Ecosystem and Fisheries. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 19, 1–27.
  • Vine, F. J., & McKenzie, D. P. (1963). Oceanic Trenches and the Origin of Ocean Basins. Nature, 200, 150-154.

Related Assignments