OCEAN 100 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2025
How are volcanoes formed? - -ubduction happens, then since crust is pulled down into the
earth, hotter(less dense) energy comes up because of convection and forms a volcano
-What is science? - -he intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic
study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation
and experiment.
-What is the scientific method? - -Observation -> hypothesis -> testing -> theory
-Hypothesis - -idea proposed to explain one or more facts (must be tested)
-Theory - -Structure of ideas that explains a large number of facts
-Scientific Theory - -structure of ideas that explain wide range of observations supported
by abundant evidence,
rigorously tested
easily confirmed/verified
Examples:
Geology= plate tectonics
Bio= Natural selection
Physics= relativity; time runs at different speeds
Astronomy= big bang theory; helps explain the universe
-The fields in Oceanography: geology, chemistry, etc... how are they used within
oceanography? - -Physical Oceanography - study of the motions (waves, tides, currents),
study of ocean atmosphere in relation to climate, and transmission of light/ sound
Chemical Oceanography - chemistry of seawater and reactions between the atmosphere
and hydrosphere. More recently looks at how changes in seawater temperature (El Nino)
and salinity affect global climate. Dissolved components, tempt. dependence,
stratification/density
Biological Oceanography - study of life in the oceans, includes marine biology and ecology.
Geological Oceanography - study of the shape/ structure of the sea and sea floor, also how
it changes and the history of sediments, plate tectonics
Astronomy - tidal forces, oceans on other planets, origin of water, origin of life
Geographical Oceanography- wind belts, weather, coastal landforms, world climate
-The Earth system; the Earth's 4 spheres: - -Lithosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere,
Atmosphere
-Cross sectional view - -Like a cake
-Block Diagram - -Three dimensional view
, -Mercator Map Projection - -Rectangle view of the world that distorts the North and South
Poles
-What are the five oceans? - -Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Antarctic
-Largest and deepest ocean - -Pacific
-Shallowest - -Arctic; its full of continental shelves
-Ocean facts - -Oceans make up 97% of all water on Earth, 3% on land
2/3 of all freshwater is stuck in glaciers in Antarctica
Oceans are 71% of the Earth's surface, 29% is continental crust
Average depth- ~3800 m
Average temp- 39 degrees fahrenheit (4 C)
Average Salinity- 35 ‰ (parts per thousand)
Mostly hydrogen & oxygen O, H, Cl, Na also Sodium and Chloride
4 Billion years old
Oceanic Crust- younger than 180 mil years old
Deepest point- Mariana Trench (11,000 m)
-Energy - -The ability to do work/move matter/create change
-2 types of energy - -Kinetic Energy- energy of motion
Which leads to...
Heat Energy- moves from hot -> cold
-How are the two energies related - -Related because Heat energy is a form of Kinetic
energy
-Apply the two energies to oceanography - -They can be applied to oceanography because
the Earth still has energy from its formation but has been cooling down with about 6 billion
years left to live.
-What are the sources of heat energy for the Earth? - -solar: sun (external) comes from
space
geothermal: (internal)heat from inside the earth (core- being the hottest and mantle)
-Convection - -a means of heat energy transfer;
Sinking of cold air because it is denser
heat transfer in a gas or liquid by the circulation of currents from one region to another
Physical movement liquid, gas, viscous solid
Hot, less dense rises (MORE kinetic energy)
Cold, denser sinks (LESS kinetic energy)
How are volcanoes formed? - -ubduction happens, then since crust is pulled down into the
earth, hotter(less dense) energy comes up because of convection and forms a volcano
-What is science? - -he intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic
study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation
and experiment.
-What is the scientific method? - -Observation -> hypothesis -> testing -> theory
-Hypothesis - -idea proposed to explain one or more facts (must be tested)
-Theory - -Structure of ideas that explains a large number of facts
-Scientific Theory - -structure of ideas that explain wide range of observations supported
by abundant evidence,
rigorously tested
easily confirmed/verified
Examples:
Geology= plate tectonics
Bio= Natural selection
Physics= relativity; time runs at different speeds
Astronomy= big bang theory; helps explain the universe
-The fields in Oceanography: geology, chemistry, etc... how are they used within
oceanography? - -Physical Oceanography - study of the motions (waves, tides, currents),
study of ocean atmosphere in relation to climate, and transmission of light/ sound
Chemical Oceanography - chemistry of seawater and reactions between the atmosphere
and hydrosphere. More recently looks at how changes in seawater temperature (El Nino)
and salinity affect global climate. Dissolved components, tempt. dependence,
stratification/density
Biological Oceanography - study of life in the oceans, includes marine biology and ecology.
Geological Oceanography - study of the shape/ structure of the sea and sea floor, also how
it changes and the history of sediments, plate tectonics
Astronomy - tidal forces, oceans on other planets, origin of water, origin of life
Geographical Oceanography- wind belts, weather, coastal landforms, world climate
-The Earth system; the Earth's 4 spheres: - -Lithosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere,
Atmosphere
-Cross sectional view - -Like a cake
-Block Diagram - -Three dimensional view
, -Mercator Map Projection - -Rectangle view of the world that distorts the North and South
Poles
-What are the five oceans? - -Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Antarctic
-Largest and deepest ocean - -Pacific
-Shallowest - -Arctic; its full of continental shelves
-Ocean facts - -Oceans make up 97% of all water on Earth, 3% on land
2/3 of all freshwater is stuck in glaciers in Antarctica
Oceans are 71% of the Earth's surface, 29% is continental crust
Average depth- ~3800 m
Average temp- 39 degrees fahrenheit (4 C)
Average Salinity- 35 ‰ (parts per thousand)
Mostly hydrogen & oxygen O, H, Cl, Na also Sodium and Chloride
4 Billion years old
Oceanic Crust- younger than 180 mil years old
Deepest point- Mariana Trench (11,000 m)
-Energy - -The ability to do work/move matter/create change
-2 types of energy - -Kinetic Energy- energy of motion
Which leads to...
Heat Energy- moves from hot -> cold
-How are the two energies related - -Related because Heat energy is a form of Kinetic
energy
-Apply the two energies to oceanography - -They can be applied to oceanography because
the Earth still has energy from its formation but has been cooling down with about 6 billion
years left to live.
-What are the sources of heat energy for the Earth? - -solar: sun (external) comes from
space
geothermal: (internal)heat from inside the earth (core- being the hottest and mantle)
-Convection - -a means of heat energy transfer;
Sinking of cold air because it is denser
heat transfer in a gas or liquid by the circulation of currents from one region to another
Physical movement liquid, gas, viscous solid
Hot, less dense rises (MORE kinetic energy)
Cold, denser sinks (LESS kinetic energy)
