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Study Guide –
Hydrology Unit Common Assessment
Water Cycle and Movement and the Oceans
1. Which part of the water cycle gains energy from the Sun? Which part of the water cycle loses energy from
the Sun? Evaporation gains energy from the Sun. Condensation loses energy from the Sun.
2. Which part of the water cycle would happen faster on a hot, dry day than on a cool, damp day? Evaporation
happens faster on a hot, dry day than on a cool, damp day.
3. What percentage of the Earth’s surface is covered by land? What percentage of the Earth’s surface is
covered by water? 71% of Earth is covered in water. 29% is covered by land. (roughly)
4. Earth’s supply of fresh water is only 3% of the total amount of water on the planet. Where can you find most
of that 3% of water? Most of the Earth’s freshwater is frozen in glaciers and ice caps (2 %).
5. Which stages of the water cycle have a change to the physical state of water (from liquid to gas, gas to
liquid)? Evaporation? Transpiration? Condensation? Precipitation?
 Evaporation changes from liquid to a gas.
 Transpiration is evaporation from plants—liquid to a gas.
 Condensation changes evaporated water (water vapor) from a gas to a liquid (water droplets).
Water droplets then gather together to form a cloud.
 Precipitation occurs when the water droplets (liquid) in a cloud become too heavy to stay in cloud
form. Depending on the temperature, the liquid remains a liquid (rain) or becomes a solid (sleet,
hail, snow).
6.
Clouds form after which stage of the water cycle is complete? What happens to the water during this stage?
Clouds form after condensation is complete. Water vapor changes from a gas to a liquid and is suspended in
the atmosphere (clouds).
7. What two factors affect ocean surface temperatures? Latitude and time of year (seasons)
8. What are the different physical features that you would see as you move underwater from the shore of a
beach to the open ocean? You would see the continental shelf, continental slope, continental rise,
abyssal plain, mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, seamounts, and ocean trenches.
9.
The dissolved solids that are in ocean water are made from different elements. Ocean water contains
more sodium and chlorine than any other element. What compound do these two elements form?
Sodium and chlorine. Sodium chloride (SALT) is the compound that the two elements form.
10.
Define salinity. Salinity is the amount of dissolved solids in a given amount of liquid.
11. Know the difference between an ocean trench and a rift valley (where they form). An ocean trench forms
at a convergent boundary. A rift valley forms at a divergent boundary.
12.
Explain how ocean water gets cold and sinks (hint: you must use water molecules in your explanation.)
When air cools the ocean water, the water molecules move closer together. The water becomes denser
and sinks.
13.
What force makes cold water sink towards the ocean floor? What replaces the cold current that sinks to
the ocean floor? Gravity makes cold water sink towards the ocean floor. Cold water is replaced by warm,
less dense water rising to the surface.
14.
In what direction does the Gulf Stream move warm water? The Gulf Stream takes warm water Northeast
across the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe.
15.
What happens to the water that is left behind after ocean water evaporates? Water left behind after
evaporation has a higher salinity because salts do not evaporate. The water then becomes denser.
16.
How does the Coriolis Effect make ocean currents appear to move? The Coriolis Effect makes ocean
currents appear to curve due to the rotation of the Earth.
17.
18.
What causes surface currents? Global Winds
How do ocean currents flow near the equator? Both ocean currents and global winds that are near the
equator move from East to West.
19.
What causes the curved path of global wind and surface currents? The Coriolis Effect
20.
What is continental deflection? Continental deflection occurs when surface currents bounce (or deflect)
off of continents and change directions.
21.
What would increase the density of ocean water? Decreasing temperatures and increasing salinity of
ocean water through evaporation & freezing.
22.
How does denser water move? Dense ocean water moves slowly, sinks, & moves across the ocean
bottom.
23.
What are the two main parts of a wave? The crest is the highest point of a wave and the trough is the
lowest point of a wave.
24.
What causes breakers to crash into the ocean floor? Gravity causes breakers to crash into the ocean
floor.
25.
Where does an undertow take sand and other particles from shore? Undertow (rip currents) takes sand
and other particles away from the shore.
26.
What transports most of the sediment in beach environments? Longshore currents transport most of the
sediment in beach environments.
27.
What is a tsunami and what causes one? A tsunami is a giant ocean wave caused by earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, or underwater explosions.
28.
When energy moves in waves through the water, in what direction does the water move? Ocean water
moves in a circular motion as energy moves through the water.
29.
Compare the density and water temperatures of deep currents and surface currents. Surface currents
are warmer and less dense than cooler, more dense deep currents.
30.
When the air above water gets cold, what happens to the water molecules? When air above water gets
cold, it causes the water molecules to move closer together. Then, the water becomes more dense.
31. How do warm-water currents affect the coastal areas along which they flow? Warm-water currents bring
warm, moist air to coastal areas creating a mild climate.
32.
List the locations of the 5 main oceans and what continents border them. Which ocean borders Georgia?
Pacific (Asia, Australia, NA, & SA)
Atlantic (NA, SA, Africa, Europe)
Indian (Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia)
Southern (Antarctica)
Arctic (NA, Europe, Asia)
The Atlantic Ocean borders Georgia.
33. What oceanic features occur at a divergent boundary of tectonic plates? At a convergent boundary?
Divergent boundary –mid ocean ridges and rift valleys
Convergent boundary—ocean trenches
34. * Explain the theory of how the Earth’s oceans formed (4 steps).
1. Volcanoes spewed lava, ash, and gases all over the planet.
2. The volcanic gases began to form Earth’s atmosphere and the Earth was cooling, enough for water vapor to condense.
3. This water began to fall as rain.
4. The rain filled the deeper levels of Earth’s surface, and the first oceans began to form.
*35. What are 3 factors that control surface currents? Global winds, continental deflection, and the Coriolis
Effect all control surface currents.
*36. What are 3 factors that control deep currents?
Increasing density
Decreased temperatures
Increased salinity
37.
Explain how the ocean temperatures affect the climate of coastal cities. Make sure to mention the Gulf
Stream and the California Current. Warm surface currents such as the Gulf Stream, carry warm, moist
air to coastal cities and create a mild climate. Also, cold surface currents such as the California Current
carry cool air to coastal cities along the western coasts of North, Central, and South America, lowering
temperatures that would otherwise be much warmer in these areas.