This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Which type of breaker forms when the ocean bottom has an abrupt slope? A) Plunging breaker B) ... (Read 50 times)

mp14

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 534
Which type of breaker forms when the ocean bottom has an abrupt slope?
 
  A) Plunging breaker
  B) Spilling breaker
  C) Standing breaker
  D) Surging breaker
  E) Swelling breaker

Question 2

Discuss and compare the forces that are responsible for creating surface and thermohaline circulation in the oceans. Include in your answer the ultimate source of energy that drives both circulation systems.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

alexisweber49

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 311
Answer to Question 1

D

Answer to Question 2

Surface currents develop from friction between the ocean and the wind that blows across its surface. Only about 2 of the wind's energy is transferred to the ocean surface, so a 50-knot wind will create a 1-knot current. If there were no continents on Earth, the surface currents would generally follow the major wind belts of the world. In each hemisphere, therefore, a current would flow between 0 and 30 degrees latitude as a result of the trade winds, a second would flow between 30 and 60 degrees latitude as a result of the prevailing westerlies, and a third would flow between 60 and 90 degrees latitude as a result of the polar easterlies. In reality, ocean surface currents are driven by more than just the wind belts of the world. The distribution of continents on Earth is one factor that influences the nature and direction of flow of surface currents in each ocean basin. Most water involved in deep-ocean currents (thermohaline circulation) originates in high latitudes at the surface. In these regions, surface water becomes cold and its salinity increases as sea ice forms. When this surface water becomes dense enough, it sinks, initiating deep-ocean currents. Once this water sinks, it is removed from the physical processes that increased its density in the first place, so its temperature and salinity remain largely unchanged for the duration it spends in the deep ocean. As these surface water masses become dense and are sinking (downwelling) in high-latitude areas, deep- water masses are also rising to the surface (upwelling). Because the water temperature in high-latitude regions is the same at the surface as it is down below, the water column is isothermal, there is no thermocline or associated pycnocline, and upwelling and downwelling can easily occur.





 

Did you know?

Every 10 seconds, a person in the United States goes to the emergency room complaining of head pain. About 1.2 million visits are for acute migraine attacks.

Did you know?

Stroke kills people from all ethnic backgrounds, but the people at highest risk for fatal strokes are: black men, black women, Asian men, white men, and white women.

Did you know?

Egg cells are about the size of a grain of sand. They are formed inside of a female's ovaries before she is even born.

Did you know?

The top 10 most important tips that will help you grow old gracefully include (1) quit smoking, (2) keep your weight down, (3) take supplements, (4) skip a meal each day or fast 1 day per week, (5) get a pet, (6) get medical help for chronic pain, (7) walk regularly, (8) reduce arguments, (9) put live plants in your living space, and (10) do some weight training.

Did you know?

Multiple sclerosis is a condition wherein the body's nervous system is weakened by an autoimmune reaction that attacks the myelin sheaths of neurons.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library