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Practice - Ocean Currents, Tides, and Waves

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is upwelling?

a)
Upwelling is the sinking of cold water to the ocean depths.
b)
Upwelling refers to the evaporation of ocean water due to heat.
c)
Upwelling is the movement of surface water away from the shore.
d)
Upwelling is the rising of nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface.
2.

Which diagram shows the Pacific Ocean during an El Nino event?

3.

What does hypoxic mean?

a)
Lack of carbon dioxide.
b)
Normal oxygen levels.
c)
Excessive oxygen levels.
d)
Deficient in oxygen.
4.

Which current pictured is called The Gulf Stream?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

5.

Which currents pictured are cold water currents? Select ALL of the choices that are correct.

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

6.

What does the blue line represent in the Thermohaline circulation?

a)

Warm salty water

b)

Warm water

c)

Cold water

d)

Cold salty water

7.

The ocean conveyer belt is also called thermohaline circulation because it is driven by

a)
ocean currents and wind patterns
b)
temperature and salinity
c)
biological activity and sedimentation
d)
gravity and atmospheric pressure
8.

During an El Nino year, the tradewinds

a)
strengthen and maintain direction
b)
increase in speed and intensity
c)
weaken and can reverse direction
d)
remain unchanged throughout the year
9.

There is more cloud formation and rainfall over

a)

cold ocean water

b)

warm ocean water

10.

Coral reefs generally require warm water to survive and grow. Based in this information, which of these locations would be more likely to have coral reefs?

a)

The East Coast of Australia

b)

The West Coast of Australia

11.

On which date was there a spring tide?

a)

Jan 16

b)

Jan 24

12.

On which date was the tidal range the smallest?

a)

Jan 16

b)

Jan 24

13.

The tide in this picture is a ​ (a)   .

During this tide, the high/low tides will be ​ (b)   than usual.

Choose from the below words
neap tide
less high and less low
spring tide
higher and lower
14.

The tide in the picture is a ​ (a)   .

During this tide, the high/low tides will be ​ (b)   than usual.

Choose from the below words
spring tide
higher and lower
neap tide
less high and less low
15.

Which conditions produce the largest ocean waves?

a)

strong winds that blow for a long time over a great distance

b)

weak winds that blow for short periods of time with a short fetch

c)

strong winds that blow for short periods of time over great distances

d)

strong winds that blow for short periods of time over small distances

e)

strong winds that blow for short periods of time with a short fetch

16.

What is the result of wave motion on water particles?

a)

Water particles barely move forward; they move in a circular pattern.

b)

Water particles are pushed down as they move side to side.

c)

Water particles barely move forward as they move up and down.

d)

Water particles are pushed forward as they move up and down.

17.

Match the following

a)

factor that "drives" ocean currents

1.

temp & salinity differences

b)

factor that "drives" ocean waves

2.

wind

c)

factor that "drives" ocean tides

3.

gravitational pull by the moon

18.
Question Image

Identify the parts of a wave.

a)

crest

1.

D

b)

trough

2.

C

c)

height

3.

B

d)

wavelength

4.

A

19.

What happens as a deep water wave moves close to the shore and starts to "feel" the bottom? Select ALL of the answers that are correct.

a)

its speed increases

b)

its speed decreases

c)

its height inreases

d)

its height decreases

e)

its wavelength increases

20.
Compared with surface currents, deep currents are
a)
colder and less dense.
b)
warmer and less dense.
c)
warmer and denser.
d)
colder and denser.
21.
a)
tides
b)
currents
22.

Surface currents move heat and moisture throughout the Earth system. They can be warm or cold.

Warm surface currents usually begin near the _____.

Cold surface currents usually begin near the ______.

a)

Equator : Poles

b)

Poles : Equator

23.

A large rotating ocean current is called a:

a)

tsunami

b)

gyre

c)

wave

d)

swell