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OCN 201 Sixth Reading Discussion Questions

Ocean Circulation II

Segar - Chapter 10

Formation of Deep Water Masses (p. 265)

1. Define the ice exclusion process. (Also see p. 8G)

2. How deep will a particular water mass sink?

3. Explain why deep water mass can spread horizontally over large areas. (Also see figs. 10.24 and 10.27)

4. Explain the concept of a stable water column stratified by density. (Also see p. 15G and fig. 10.27)

Locations of Deep Water-Mass Formation

5. Explain the formation of the densest water mass in the Weddell Sea near Antarctica. (Also see fig. 10.26)

6. Use fig. 10.27 to give the flow direction of the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) in the Atlantic Ocean.

7. Explain why no bottom water formation occurs in the North Indian or North Pacific oceans. (Also see inside front cover)

8. Where is the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) formed? (Also see fig. 10.26)

9. Use fig. 10.27 to give the flow direction of the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) in the Atlantic Ocean.

10. Explain why Atlantic seawater salinity is slightly higher than other oceans. (Also see fig. 10.25)

11. Explain why the NADW flows over the AABW. (Also see fig. 10.27)

Water Masses at Intermediate Depths

12. Explain the formation of Mediterranean Intermediate Water (MIW). (Also see figs. 10.25 and 10.26)

10.15 Tracing Water Masses

13. Explain how oceanographers learn about thermohaline circulation.

Conservative and Nonconservative Circulation

14. Explain how conservative properties are changed below the ocean's surface.

15. List the two primary conservative seawater properties.

16. Explain how conservative properties are used to trace thermohaline water masses.

TS Diagrams

17. What does the line plotted between two water masses on a TS diagram signify? (Also see fig. 10.30)

Tracers

18. Give the primary source of the radionuclide tracers.

19. Explain why tritium is a perfect water mass tracer.

20. Explain why tritium is a useful tracer for only a few decades.

21. Which water mass is traced using tritium in fig. 10.31?

22. Explain why CFC's are excellent water-mass tracers.

23. Discuss a primary disadvantage for CFC's as tracers.