Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
The combined mass of water found on the earth, including oceans, rivers, the atmosphere, and underground, is called the _____.
Answer
Hydrosphere
Question
Approximately what percentage of the earth's surface is covered by water?
Answer
$71\%$
Question
What percentage of the earth's total water supply is contained within the oceans?
Answer
$97\%$
Question
Why is ocean water considered unfit for human consumption?
Answer
It has a high salt content.
Question
What percentage of the earth's total global water is classified as fresh water?
Answer
$3\%$
Question
Where is the majority of the earth's fresh water ($68.7\%$) located?
Answer
Glaciers and ice caps
Question
What constitutes the smallest percentage ($1.2\%$) of the earth's fresh water distribution?
Answer
Surface water
Question
An underground water stream that is saturated with water and transmits it readily is known as an _____.
Answer
Aquifer
Question
The circulation of water between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere is known as the _____.
Answer
Hydrological Cycle
Question
What are the three primary ways in which ocean waters move?
Answer
Waves, currents, and tides.
Question
Oscillatory movements in water manifested by an alternate rise and fall of the sea surface are called _____.
Answer
Waves
Question
What is the primary cause of waves on the surface of the oceans?
Answer
Winds
Question
The periodic rise and fall of sea water due to the gravitational forces of the sun and the moon are called _____.
Answer
Tides
Question
What term describes the movement of sea water towards the coast during a tide?
Answer
Tide
Question
What term describes the fall of sea water and its movement back towards the sea?
Answer
Ebb
Question
The difference in height between high tide water and low tide water is defined as the _____.
Answer
Tidal range
Question
What is the term for the point in the moon's orbit when it is at its farthest distance from the earth?
Answer
Apogee
Question
What is the term for the point in the moon's orbit when it is at its nearest distance to the earth?
Answer
Perigee
Question
Which force causes the water bulge on the side of the earth opposite the moon during a tide?
Answer
Centrifugal force
Question
How many high tides and ebbs are typically experienced at any place on earth every 24 hours?
Answer
Two
Question
Why is each day tide delayed by 26 minutes compared to the previous day?
Answer
The moon rotates on its axis while revolving around the earth.
Question
Under what astronomical condition are 'Spring Tides' formed?
Answer
When the sun, moon, and earth are in the same line.
Question
By what percentage is the height of a spring tide greater than a normal tide?
Answer
$20\%$
Question
At what moon-sun-earth position do 'Neap Tides' occur?
Answer
Quadrature (right angle position)
Question
On which day of every fortnight of a month do neap tides typically occur?
Answer
Eighth day
Question
By what percentage is the height of a neap tide lower than a normal tide?
Answer
$20\%$
Question
Large masses of surface water that circulate in regular patterns around the oceans are called _____.
Answer
Ocean currents
Question
Ocean currents that flow from low latitudes in tropical zones towards high latitudes are classified as _____.
Answer
Warm Currents
Question
Ocean currents that bring cold water from high latitudes in polar regions to low latitudes are classified as _____.
Answer
Cold Currents
Question
Surface currents constitute approximately what percentage of all water in the ocean?
Answer
$10\%$
Question
What is the maximum depth typically reached by surface currents?
Answer
400 metres
Question
Deep water currents make up approximately what percentage of the ocean's water?
Answer
$90\%$
Question
How does the level of salinity in ocean water affect its movement?
Answer
Higher salinity makes water denser, causing it to flow beneath less saline water.
Question
In the context of the Coriolis force, what is the direction of ocean current movement in the Northern Hemisphere?
Answer
Clockwise
Question
In the context of the Coriolis force, what is the direction of ocean current movement in the Southern Hemisphere?
Answer
Anticlockwise
Question
Which planetary winds move Equatorial waters polewards and westwards?
Answer
Trade Winds
Question
Which winds are responsible for forcing the warm Gulf Stream towards the western coast of Europe?
Answer
Westerlies
Question
Where is the strongest influence of prevailing winds on ocean currents seen due to seasonal changes?
Answer
North Indian Ocean
Question
The general oceanic circulation pattern in the middle latitudes is mainly _____.
Answer
Anticyclonic
Question
Where does the Gulf Stream current originate?
Answer
Gulf of Mexico
Question
Which extension of the Gulf Stream keeps the ports of Western Europe ice-free even in winter?
Answer
North Atlantic Drift
Question
The cold current that flows south along the coast of Labrador and meets the Gulf Stream is the _____.
Answer
Labrador Current
Question
What weather phenomenon is produced when the warm Gulf Stream meets the cold Labrador Current?
Answer
Heavy fogs
Question
The combination of the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current has created one of the world's richest _____.
Answer
Fishing grounds
Question
Which strong Pacific boundary current is also known as the 'Black Stream'?
Answer
Kuroshio Current
Question
Which cold subarctic current flows south and collides with the Kuroshio Current off Japan?
Answer
Oyashio Current
Question
How do warm equatorial currents affect the climate of the coastal places where they flow?
Answer
They tend to raise the temperature of the area.
Question
Why is the climate of the British Isles mild compared to other regions at the same latitude?
Answer
The influence of the warm North Atlantic Drift.
Question
How do warm ocean currents influence precipitation in affected coastal areas?
Answer
The warm air above them absorbs more moisture, leading to increased rainfall.
Question
Which current's cooling effect helps explain the existence of the Atacama desert?
Answer
Peru Current
Question
Where do violent storms or hurricanes typically occur in relation to ocean currents?
Answer
Along the line where cold and warm currents meet.
Question
What are the microscopic organisms that fish feed on, often moved by ocean currents?
Answer
Planktons
Question
Why does the Port of Murmansk in Russia remain ice-free in winter while other ports at similar latitudes freeze?
Answer
The influence of warm ocean currents.
Question
Why is the Port of Vladivostok snow-bound for almost the whole year?
Answer
The influence of a cold ocean current.
Question
What modern technology helps ships locate icebergs in the darkness of dense fogs?
Answer
Radar
Question
The Labrador Current transports icebergs from the glaciers of _____ southwards.
Answer
Greenland
Question
Which current warms the eastern coast of Japan as it moves north-eastward?
Answer
Kuroshio Current
Question
What happens to the South Equatorial Current when it is obstructed by Cape Sao Roque in South America?
Answer
It divides into two branches (North Equatorial and Brazil Current).
Question
The high water level resulting from a tide is specifically known as _____.
Answer
High tide water
Question
The low water level resulting from a tide is specifically known as _____.
Answer
Low tide water