Ocean Atmosphere Interaction Questions and Answers

Q: Consider the following statements about coupling between ocean and atmosphere.1. The atmosphere drives the surface ocean through wind stress.2. The ocean influences the atmosphere through heat and moisture supply.3. The coupling runs in one direction only.

Correct answer: 1 and 2 onlyStatements 1 and 2 describe the two directions of the coupling: the atmosphere drives the surface ocean by wind stress, and the ocean feeds the atmosphere heat and moisture. Statement 3 denies the second of those. The coupling is two-way, and El Nino is the clearest demonstration - weakened trades warm the eastern Pacific, and that warming further weakens the trades.

Q: When deep water sinks in the North Atlantic and moves away from where it formed, it gets

The water gets richer in CO2 and poorer in O2.North Atlantic Deep Water forms at the surface, cold and well oxygenated. Once it sinks it is cut off from the atmosphere, and as it travels through the deep ocean organic matter sinking from above is respired and decomposed in it. Respiration consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide and nutrients, so older deep water has less O2 and more CO2.It cannot gain oxygen away from the surface, so 'richer in oxygen' and 'richer in CO2 and O2' are wrong. The added CO2 makes it more acidic, not less.

Q: The speed of sound in the ocean depends on

The speed of sound in the ocean depends on temperature, salinity and pressure.Sound speed in seawater, about 1500 m/s, increases with temperature (roughly 4 m/s per °C near the surface), with salinity (about 1.3 m/s per unit of salinity) and with pressure, that is depth (about 1.7 m/s per 100 m). Empirical formulas such as Mackenzie's include all three.The interplay of falling temperature and rising pressure with depth produces the sound speed minimum of the SOFAR channel. Any option that leaves out one of the three variables is incomplete.

Q: Which one of the following statements regarding equatorial under current (EUC) in the Pacific Ocean is correct?

The Equatorial Undercurrent flows from west to east.The trade winds drive the surface South Equatorial Current westward and pile water up in the western Pacific, so the sea surface, and with it the pressure at depth, slopes down towards the east. Just below the surface layer, out of reach of the wind stress, this pressure gradient drives a narrow, fast current eastward along the Equator, at about 100-200 m depth.Westward flow is the surface current above it, and a north-south flow does not describe a current confined to the Equator.

Q: Consider the following options and pick out the right choice. The solubility of a gas in sea water increases with ________.

Solubility increases with the decrease of temperature and salinity, and the increase of pressure.Colder water holds more dissolved gas, which is why cold polar waters are rich in oxygen and CO2. Higher salinity lowers gas solubility (the salting-out effect): dissolved ions bind water molecules and leave less room for gas. Higher partial pressure of the gas raises its solubility, by Henry's law.Every other option gets at least one of these three directions wrong; for example, rising temperature always lowers gas solubility, which rules out the two options that include it.

21.

Match each ocean atmosphere phenomenon with its timescale.
List I
A. Sea breeze
B. Seasonal thermocline
C. El Nino
D. Thermohaline overturning
List II
1. two to seven years
2. daily
3. many centuries
4. annual

A.A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
B.A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
C.A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
D.A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

Answer: A

The range of timescales is what makes ocean atmosphere coupling so rich, and each phenomenon requires a different kind of model. Mixing them up leads to expectations on entirely the wrong timescale. Coupling spans many timescales.

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22.

The thermocline is

A.a horizontal boundary between currents
B.a layer of rapid temperature decrease
C.a layer of constant temperature
D.the surface of the ocean itself

Answer: B

It separates the warm mixed layer from the cold deep water and acts as a barrier to vertical exchange. Its depth varies greatly with latitude and season. It separates warm surface from cold deep. Its strength varies with the season.

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23.

State whether the following is true or false.
The thermocline acts as a barrier to vertical mixing in the ocean.

A.True only at large scales
B.False only at small scales
C.True
D.False

Answer: C

The strong density gradient across it suppresses turbulence, which is why nutrients are trapped below and the surface is often depleted. Upwelling is what breaks through it and supports productivity. The density gradient suppresses turbulence.

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24.

Arrange the following ocean layers from the surface downwards.
1. the permanent thermocline
2. the wind mixed surface layer
3. the cold deep water
4. the seasonal thermocline

A.3 - 1 - 4 - 2
B.4 - 2 - 1 - 3
C.2 - 1 - 4 - 3
D.2 - 4 - 1 - 3

Answer: D

The seasonal thermocline forms and decays each year within the upper few hundred metres while the permanent one lies deeper and persists. Below them the deep water changes only over centuries. Two thermoclines lie above the deep water.

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25.

Sea surface temperature influences the atmosphere above it most directly by

A.controlling evaporation and latent heat
B.altering the Coriolis force locally
C.changing the atmospheric pressure directly
D.reflecting rather more sunlight

Answer: A

A warm ocean evaporates more and fuels deeper convection, which is why tropical cyclones need warm water. The pattern of sea surface temperature organises much of the tropical circulation. Warm water fuels deep convection.

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26.

Consider the following statements about coupling between ocean and atmosphere.
1. The atmosphere drives the surface ocean through wind stress.
2. The ocean influences the atmosphere through heat and moisture supply.
3. The coupling runs in one direction only.

A.All of them
B.1 and 2 only
C.3 only
D.1 only

Answer: B

Correct answer: 1 and 2 only

Statements 1 and 2 describe the two directions of the coupling: the atmosphere drives the surface ocean by wind stress, and the ocean feeds the atmosphere heat and moisture. Statement 3 denies the second of those. The coupling is two-way, and El Nino is the clearest demonstration - weakened trades warm the eastern Pacific, and that warming further weakens the trades.

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27.

When deep water sinks in the North Atlantic and moves away from where it formed, it gets

A.richer in oxygen and nutrients
B.less acidic and richer in metals
C.richer in \(\mathrm{CO_{2}}\) and poorer in \(\mathrm{O_{2}}\)
D.richer in \(\mathrm{CO_{2}}\) and \(\mathrm{O_{2}}\)

Exam Year(s)

GATE XE - 2018,

Answer: C

The water gets richer in CO₂ and poorer in O₂.

North Atlantic Deep Water forms at the surface, cold and well oxygenated. Once it sinks it is cut off from the atmosphere, and as it travels through the deep ocean organic matter sinking from above is respired and decomposed in it. Respiration consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide and nutrients, so older deep water has less O₂ and more CO₂.

It cannot gain oxygen away from the surface, so 'richer in oxygen' and 'richer in CO₂ and O₂' are wrong. The added CO₂ makes it more acidic, not less.

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28.

The speed of sound in the ocean depends on

A.temperature alone
B.temperature and pressure
C.temperature and salinity
D.temperature, salinity and pressure

Exam Year(s)

GATE XE - 2018,

Answer: D

The speed of sound in the ocean depends on temperature, salinity and pressure.

Sound speed in seawater, about 1500 m/s, increases with temperature (roughly 4 m/s per °C near the surface), with salinity (about 1.3 m/s per unit of salinity) and with pressure, that is depth (about 1.7 m/s per 100 m). Empirical formulas such as Mackenzie's include all three.

The interplay of falling temperature and rising pressure with depth produces the sound speed minimum of the SOFAR channel. Any option that leaves out one of the three variables is incomplete.

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29.

Which one of the following statements regarding equatorial under current (EUC) in the Pacific Ocean is correct?

A.EUC flows from west to east.
B.EUC flows from east to west.
C.EUC flows from north to south.
D.EUC flows from south to north.

Exam Year(s)

GATE XE - 2022,

Answer: A

The Equatorial Undercurrent flows from west to east.

The trade winds drive the surface South Equatorial Current westward and pile water up in the western Pacific, so the sea surface, and with it the pressure at depth, slopes down towards the east. Just below the surface layer, out of reach of the wind stress, this pressure gradient drives a narrow, fast current eastward along the Equator, at about 100-200 m depth.

Westward flow is the surface current above it, and a north-south flow does not describe a current confined to the Equator.

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30.

Consider the following options and pick out the right choice. The solubility of a gas in sea water increases with ________.

A.the increase of temperature, salinity and pressure
B.the decrease of temperature, salinity and pressure
C.the increase of temperature, and the decrease of salinity and pressure
D.the decrease of temperature and salinity, and the increase of pressure

Exam Year(s)

GATE XE - 2023,

Answer: D

Solubility increases with the decrease of temperature and salinity, and the increase of pressure.

Colder water holds more dissolved gas, which is why cold polar waters are rich in oxygen and CO₂. Higher salinity lowers gas solubility (the salting-out effect): dissolved ions bind water molecules and leave less room for gas. Higher partial pressure of the gas raises its solubility, by Henry's law.

Every other option gets at least one of these three directions wrong; for example, rising temperature always lowers gas solubility, which rules out the two options that include it.

Discuss in Forum

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