Oceanography Exam #1
Oceanography - correct answer-Study of the water of the oceans, the life in it, and the Earth
beneath it.
Four Sub-disciplines of Oceanography - correct answer-Geological, Chemical, Physical,
Biological
Ocean covers __% of Earth's surface, and contains __% of Earth's water. - correct
answer-71, 97
The ocean and its ____ ____ control ____ ____. - correct answer-Stored Heat, Global
Climates
The ocean is important for... - correct answer-...commerce, transportation and recreation.
Ocean Resources - correct answer-Water, Food, Minerals, Energy, Space
Human Habitation in Coastal Zone - correct answer-3.2 Billion People Worldwide, 80% of
US Citizens, 8 out of 10 Largest Cities, 3,600 people move to coast each day.
The Four Principal Oceans (+1) - correct answer-Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic,
(+Southern/Antarctic)
Average Ocean Depth - correct answer-~3,796 Meters
Average Elevation of Land - correct answer-840 Meters
Deepest Part of Ocean - correct answer-Mariana's Trench at 11,022 Meters Deep.
Highest Mountain - correct answer-Mount Everest at 8,850 Meters High.
Total Maximum Relief on Earth - correct answer-19,872 Meters
Early Period - correct answer-Up to ca 1400 CE (Includes Middle Ages); First Used as Food
Source, Migration/Trade by Vikings, Phonecians, Chinese, and Micronesians; Later by
Romans & Greeks for Political/Military Reasons
Early Period Accomplishments - correct answer-First Maps, Magnetic Compass, Size/Shape
of Earth, System of Latitudes, Tides
Middle Period - correct answer-ca 1400-1800 CE (Age of Discovery); Exploration/Mapping
by Western Man, Used for Trade/Colonialism/National Security, No Academic Study.
Middle Period Names - correct answer-Henry the Navigator, DeGamma, Magellan, Drake,
Cook, Henry Hudson, Columbus
, Middle Period Accomplishments - correct answer-Accurate Maps of Worlds & Oceans,
Sextant, Chronometer, System of Longitude, Mercator Projection Maps, Notes on Local
Biota.
Modern Period - correct answer-ca 1800 CE to Present; Primary Motivation Still Economic
and Political, Includes First Systematic Scientific Studies
Modern Period Accomplishments - correct answer-1777: Ben Franklin's Map of Gulf Stream;
1807: US Coast and Geodetic Study (NOAA); 1830: Voyage of the Beagle, Darwin; 1872:
Voyage of the HMS Challenger (First Purely Scientific Oceanographic Study)
Pacific Ocean - correct answer-Largest (width half circumference of Earth), nearly circular,
deepest (greatest average depth because of many deep trenches), coldest and least salty,
and numerous islands and volcano.
Atlantic Ocean - correct answer-Second largest, "S" shaped, shallower (large central ridge,
average depth 3310 m), saltier than average; Mediterranean water.
Indian Ocean - correct answer-South of Tropic of Cancer, roughly symmetrical (more or less
circular), smallest of the three main oceans.
Arctic Ocean - correct answer-Almost enclosed by land, nearly all above the Arctic circle,
dominated by ice, largest connection with Atlantic/major influence on Atlantic.
Southern/Antarctic Ocean - correct answer-Defined by a set of physico‐chemical
oceanographic parameters that distinguish the Antarctic water mass from the other water
masses.
Universe Origin - correct answer-13-15 Ga; Big Bang Theory
Solar System Origin - correct answer-~5 Ga; Condensation of Solar Nebulae
Earth Origin - correct answer-~4.5 Ga; several hypothesis; most involve condensation
and collapse of part of the solar nebulae, era of impacts; then fractionation/ differentiation,
degassing, cooling.
Atmosphere Origin - correct answer-Ongoing; original atmosphere lost; atmosphere
continually evolves as a result of degassing, abiotic and biotic processes; earliest known
atmosphere much different from current.
Oceans Origin - correct answer-About 4.0 Ga (Billion Years Ago)
Oldest Fossils - correct answer-3.5 Ga (Billion Years Ago)
Oldest Rocks on Earth - correct answer-3.99 Ga (Billion Years Ago)
Oldest Ocean Floor - correct answer-200 Ma (Million Years Ago)
Oceanography - correct answer-Study of the water of the oceans, the life in it, and the Earth
beneath it.
Four Sub-disciplines of Oceanography - correct answer-Geological, Chemical, Physical,
Biological
Ocean covers __% of Earth's surface, and contains __% of Earth's water. - correct
answer-71, 97
The ocean and its ____ ____ control ____ ____. - correct answer-Stored Heat, Global
Climates
The ocean is important for... - correct answer-...commerce, transportation and recreation.
Ocean Resources - correct answer-Water, Food, Minerals, Energy, Space
Human Habitation in Coastal Zone - correct answer-3.2 Billion People Worldwide, 80% of
US Citizens, 8 out of 10 Largest Cities, 3,600 people move to coast each day.
The Four Principal Oceans (+1) - correct answer-Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic,
(+Southern/Antarctic)
Average Ocean Depth - correct answer-~3,796 Meters
Average Elevation of Land - correct answer-840 Meters
Deepest Part of Ocean - correct answer-Mariana's Trench at 11,022 Meters Deep.
Highest Mountain - correct answer-Mount Everest at 8,850 Meters High.
Total Maximum Relief on Earth - correct answer-19,872 Meters
Early Period - correct answer-Up to ca 1400 CE (Includes Middle Ages); First Used as Food
Source, Migration/Trade by Vikings, Phonecians, Chinese, and Micronesians; Later by
Romans & Greeks for Political/Military Reasons
Early Period Accomplishments - correct answer-First Maps, Magnetic Compass, Size/Shape
of Earth, System of Latitudes, Tides
Middle Period - correct answer-ca 1400-1800 CE (Age of Discovery); Exploration/Mapping
by Western Man, Used for Trade/Colonialism/National Security, No Academic Study.
Middle Period Names - correct answer-Henry the Navigator, DeGamma, Magellan, Drake,
Cook, Henry Hudson, Columbus
, Middle Period Accomplishments - correct answer-Accurate Maps of Worlds & Oceans,
Sextant, Chronometer, System of Longitude, Mercator Projection Maps, Notes on Local
Biota.
Modern Period - correct answer-ca 1800 CE to Present; Primary Motivation Still Economic
and Political, Includes First Systematic Scientific Studies
Modern Period Accomplishments - correct answer-1777: Ben Franklin's Map of Gulf Stream;
1807: US Coast and Geodetic Study (NOAA); 1830: Voyage of the Beagle, Darwin; 1872:
Voyage of the HMS Challenger (First Purely Scientific Oceanographic Study)
Pacific Ocean - correct answer-Largest (width half circumference of Earth), nearly circular,
deepest (greatest average depth because of many deep trenches), coldest and least salty,
and numerous islands and volcano.
Atlantic Ocean - correct answer-Second largest, "S" shaped, shallower (large central ridge,
average depth 3310 m), saltier than average; Mediterranean water.
Indian Ocean - correct answer-South of Tropic of Cancer, roughly symmetrical (more or less
circular), smallest of the three main oceans.
Arctic Ocean - correct answer-Almost enclosed by land, nearly all above the Arctic circle,
dominated by ice, largest connection with Atlantic/major influence on Atlantic.
Southern/Antarctic Ocean - correct answer-Defined by a set of physico‐chemical
oceanographic parameters that distinguish the Antarctic water mass from the other water
masses.
Universe Origin - correct answer-13-15 Ga; Big Bang Theory
Solar System Origin - correct answer-~5 Ga; Condensation of Solar Nebulae
Earth Origin - correct answer-~4.5 Ga; several hypothesis; most involve condensation
and collapse of part of the solar nebulae, era of impacts; then fractionation/ differentiation,
degassing, cooling.
Atmosphere Origin - correct answer-Ongoing; original atmosphere lost; atmosphere
continually evolves as a result of degassing, abiotic and biotic processes; earliest known
atmosphere much different from current.
Oceans Origin - correct answer-About 4.0 Ga (Billion Years Ago)
Oldest Fossils - correct answer-3.5 Ga (Billion Years Ago)
Oldest Rocks on Earth - correct answer-3.99 Ga (Billion Years Ago)
Oldest Ocean Floor - correct answer-200 Ma (Million Years Ago)
