Download OCN100--Study Guide

OCN100--Study Guide...Introduction, Chapters 1 -3
Chapter 1: Introduction to Planet "Earth"
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About ____% of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans. The northern / southern
hemisphere has the largest area of ocean.
About ____% of the water (including ice) on Earth is in the ocean.
List the 4 principal oceans in order of size. Which is the deepest?
Where is the Southern Ocean? What defines its extent?
The average depth of the ocean is approx. _______ meters; the average height of land is
______ meters; this makes the average ocean depth _______ times deeper than land is
high.
The deepest spot in the ocean is the ____________________; its depth is _______ meters.
Including above and below sea level portions, the tallest mountain on earth is ___________.
Be able to briefly describe the major achievements or significance of the following
persons/nations/ ships/programs/research tools: (Note: You will find many of these described in
Chapters 1-3; use the index to find any others)
Ferdinand Magellan
Chikyu
John Harrison
Kon Tiki
James Cook
GLOMAR Challenger
Fridtjof Nansen
Alvin
William Beebe
Trieste
Robert Ballard
HMS Challenger
Integrated Ocean Drilling
JOIDES Resolution
Program (IODP)
NOAA
Fram
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO)
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bathysphere
submersible
remote operating vehicle (ROV)
SONAR
Multibeam sonar
sextant
chronometer
seismic reflection profiling
False color image
Describe the 4 steps in the "scientific method." How is a hypothesis different from a theory?
Draw a diagram to illustrate how latitude and longitude are used to designate locations on
Earth.
Describe the characteristics and physical properties of each of the earth's layers: crust
(continental and oceanic), mantle, inner and outer core. Describe the primary method used
for studying Earth’s structure.
Draw a sketch to show the relationship between the crust, mantle, lithosphere, and
asthenosphere (Fig. 1.15).
Explain the phenomenon of isostatic adjustment (Fig. 1.16); provide examples of how it
applies to the study of the Earth.
Chapter 2: Plate Tectonics and the Ocean Floor
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Discuss how the following were important in the development of Plate Tectonic theory:
o Studies of Earth’s magnetic field and paleomagnetism (Fig. 2.11)
o Pattern of the age of the ocean floor (Fig. 2.12)
o Distribution of earthquakes (Fig. 2.13)
Describe the processes involved at the three types of plate boundaries (divergent,
convergent, and transform). See Table 2.1 as an outline. Be able to:
o Describe the characteristic features/landforms that result.
o Provide examples of geographic locations where these plate boundaries and
features occur (example: transform boundary--San Andreas Fault--California).
o Sketch each type of plate boundary. See Fig. 2.17, 2.20, 2.22 and 2.23.
o Describe the relationship between earthquakes (depth and location) and each type of
plate boundary.
The average rate of plate motion is ________________; the fastest rate of motion is
___________ and is located ______________________.
Explain how each of the following has contributed support to plate tectonic theory:
o Distribution of hot spots and formation of island/seamount chains (Fig. 2.25)
o Differing shape between seamounts and tablemounts (Fig. 2.26)
o Types of coral reefs (Fig. 2.27)
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Where are YOU in relation to a plate boundary? Which plate? Which type of boundary?
Where are you headed? Will California ever fall into the ocean? How does this boundary
change to the north/south?
 Questions and Exercises: # 3, 5, 7-8, 11-14
Chapter 3: Marine Provinces
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Describe techniques for determining ocean bathymetry.
Draw a diagram to show the relationship between shape of the sea surface and the shape of
the sea floor (Box 3.1, Fig. 3A).
Describe how the information from seismic profiling differs from information from side-scan
sonar.
Describe the features and processes that occur along continental margins.
Compare and contrast the characteristics, tectonic setting, and geographic location of
passive and active continental margins. Be able to draw a cross-section across each type
(Fig. 3.7).
Compare the bathymetry of California's Continental Borderland to that of a typical
continental margin (Fig. 3.8). Explain the origin of its unique shape.
Describe the processes that occur in submarine canyons (Fig. 3.10).
Describe the characteristics of a continental rise and abyssal plain. Explain which margin
type and ocean would have the best developed rise and plain.
Draw a typical cross section of an abyssal plain as it might show up in a seismic section
(Fig. 3.12). How does this illustrate the relationship between abyssal hills and abyssal
plains?
Describe the relationship between ocean trenches and volcanic arcs. Use a map to identify
the location of most ocean trenches (Fig 3.13).
Describe in detail the features and processes which occur along oceanic ridges (MOR’s).
What might you see if you took a trip there in a submersible? Where could you see a part of
the mid-ocean ridge above sea level?
Describe the difference between transform faults and fracture zones. Explain how transform
faults and fractures zones are related to oceanic ridges and plate boundaries (Fig. 3.19,
Table 3.1).
 Questions and Exercises: #1-9, 12