Study Guide for Final Exam-Oceanography

The theory of plate tectonics explains the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates. Which of the following is evidence that supports this theory?

• Distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes

• Phases of the Moon

• Formation of rainbows

• Seasonal changes in weather

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Which of the following best compares oceanic and continental crust?

• Oceanic crust is thinner, denser, and primarily basaltic, while continental crust is thicker, less dense, and primarily granitic.

• Oceanic crust is thicker, less dense, and primarily granitic, while continental crust is thinner, denser, and primarily basaltic.

• Both oceanic and continental crust have the same thickness and composition.

• Oceanic crust is older and more complex than continental crust.

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Landforms that occur at each type of plate boundary include:

• Mountains at convergent boundaries, mid-ocean ridges at divergent boundaries, and fault lines at transform boundaries.

• Volcanoes at transform boundaries, trenches at divergent boundaries, and plains at convergent boundaries.

• Islands at transform boundaries, valleys at convergent boundaries, and plateaus at divergent boundaries.

• Deserts at convergent boundaries, rivers at divergent boundaries, and hills at transform boundaries.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Subduction is the process where one tectonic plate moves under another. Where does subduction typically occur?

• At mid-ocean ridges

• At transform boundaries

• At subduction zones

• At continental interiors

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Seafloor spreading supports the idea of continental drift by:

• showing that new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and moves continents apart

• demonstrating that continents are fixed and do not move

• proving that all continents were always separated by oceans

• indicating that the ocean floor is older than the continents

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The difference between an active and passive continental margin is:

• Active margins are tectonically active with earthquakes and volcanoes, while passive margins are stable and lack such activity.

• Active margins are found along the Atlantic Ocean, while passive margins are found along the Pacific Ocean.

• Passive margins have more earthquakes than active margins.

• There is no difference between active and passive continental margins.

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NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

The ocean floor from a beach to the mid-ocean ridge includes which of the following features?

• Continental shelf, continental slope, abyssal plain, mid-ocean ridge

• Only sandy beaches and deep trenches

• Volcanoes and coral reefs only

• Flat plains with no elevation changes

Surface currents are driven by ______ and are deflected by ______.

• wind; the Coriolis effect

• gravity; tides

• temperature; salinity

• the moon; Earth's tilt

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The Coriolis effect causes moving air and water to turn in which direction in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

• Right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere

• Left in the Northern Hemisphere and right in the Southern Hemisphere

• Right in both hemispheres

• Left in both hemispheres

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

There is a "hill" at the center of ocean gyres because:

• wind-driven surface currents pile up water due to the Coriolis effect and Ekman transport.

• the ocean floor rises at the center of gyres.

• temperature differences create a mound of water.

• marine organisms build up sediment in the center.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6