Geology 117: The Oceans

Self-Administered Quizzes

Quiz No. 4 -- Covers topics 16 - 20

 

1. The greenhouse effect is caused by

A. lithospheric plates insulating the mantle

B. certain gases (H2O, CO2, etc.) in the atmosphere which decrease outgoing radiation

C. certain gases (H2O, CO2, etc.) in the atmosphere allowing outgoing radiation to exceed incoming radiation.

D. none of the above

 

2. The surplus heat received by the Earth at low latitudes is redistributed to high latitudes by

A.winds

B. ocean currents.

C. reflection of infrared radiation in the upper atmopshere

D. A and B are both true

E. B and C are both true

 

3. The ability of H2O to dissolve some many types of substances is due to its

A. high heat capacity.

B. high heat of vaporization

C. low heat capacity

D. low heat of vaporization

E. polar nature

 

4. The salinity of sea water differs between one area and another, but

A. the proportions of major dissolved ions remain constant.

B. the temperature remains constant

C. the depth remains constant

D. total concentration of dissolved ions remains constant

 

5. How would the dissolved CO2 system of the ocean respond to an increase in the level of CO2 in the atmosphere?

A. The concentration of hydrogen ion, [H+], would decrease. This is the same as an increase in pH of sea water.

B. pH would increase, and CaCO3 would precipitate from sea water.

C. pH would decrease

D. pH would decrease, and CaCO3 in surficial sediments would dissolve

E. CaCO3 would precipitate due to an enhanced greenhouse warming of the atmosphere and oceans.

 

6. Carbon dioxide is

A. less soluble in sea water than other common atmospheric gases.

B. more soluble in sea water than other common atmospheric gases.

C. about equally soluble compared to other common atmospheric gases.

D. None of the above

 

7. Nutrient elements are

A. conservative constituents in sea water.

B. the most abundant elements in sea water

C. the most constant elements in sea water

D. the least important elements in sea water

E. None of the above

 

8. Sources of oxygen in the open sea include

A. the atmosphere.

B. photosynthesis.

C. respiration and decay.

D. the atmosphere and photosynthesis.

E. photosynthesis, respiration, and decay.

 

9. Density of sea water increases as

A. temperature (T), salinity (S), and pressure (P) decrease.

B. T, S, and P increase.

C. T increases and S and P decrease.

D. S and P increase and T decreases.

E. P increases and T and S decrease.

 

10. The most important process of heat transfer from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere is

A. evaporation and condensation.

B. conduction.

C. reflection.

D. radiation.

E. convection.

 

11. The average salinity of sea water is about _____ parts per thousand (o/oo).

A. 25

B. 30

C. 35

D. 40

E. 45

 

12. Which of the following is the dominant process for the removal of dissolved calcium (Ca), bicarbonate (HCO3), and silicon (Si) from sea water?

A. Hydrothermal alteration of new oceanic crust

B. Evaporation to the point of saturation

C. Precipitation and deposition of biogenous sediments

D. Weathering of continental crust

E. Adsorption on clay particles

 

13. The residence time of a dissolved constituent in sea water is

A. the time required for continental crust to be weathered to dissolved species

B. the time required for sea water to circulated through mid-ocean ridges.

C. the average time a constituent spends in the oceans before it is removed.

D. the average time a constituent spends in ocean sediments before it is released to sea water

E. the average time for complete mixing of the oceans

 

 

 

Answers: 1=B, 2=D, 3=E, 4=A, 5=D, 6=B, 7=E, 8=D, 9=D, 10=A, 11=C, 12=C, 13=C

---