Oceanography Quiz

What is upwelling?

• A process where warm surface water moves away from the shore

• A process where cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface

• A type of ocean current

• A phenomenon caused by El Niño

What drives upwelling?

• High air pressure

• Low air pressure

• Strong winds

• Calm weather conditions

The NPP of an aquatic environment means:

• Normal Populations of People

• Negative Photosynthesis Produced

• No Precipitation Present

• Net Primary Productivity

What are surface ocean currents primarily driven by?

• Gravitational pull of the Moon

• Density differences in water

• Wind patterns

• Earth's rotation

El Niño is characterized by:

• Strong upwelling along the coast of South America

• Weakening of the trade winds in the Pacific

• Increased productivity of marine life

• Decreased sea surface temperatures in the Pacific

The current that loops through the Gulf of Mexico that carries warm water to the North Atlantic and has major climate implications on East Coast of the US and W. Europe is the…

• Humboldt Current

• Gulf Stream

• California Current

• Greater Pacific Current

How does light affect productivity in the ocean?

• Increased light leads to decreased productivity

• Decreased light leads to increased productivity

• Light does not affect productivity

• Light enhances productivity through photosynthesis

The ocean zone where photosynthesis occurs due to the presence of light is called the:

• Abyssal zone

• Hadal zone

• Photic zone

• Benthic zone

Downwelling is the process of:

• Warm surface water moving towards the shore

• Colder, high salinity water sinking from the surface

• Wind-driven surface currents

• Formation of hurricanes

The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that flows primarily in which ocean?

• Atlantic Ocean

• Pacific Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Arctic Ocean