Chapter 12, Problem 112MSPP

MCAT-Style Passage Problems

Thermal Properties of the Oceans

Seasonal temperature changes in the ocean only affect the top layer of water, to a depth of 500 0m or so. This “mixed” layer is thermally isolated from the cold, deep water below. The average temperature of this top layer of the world’s oceans, which has area 3.6 × 10⁸ km², is approximately 17°C.

In addition to seasonal temperature changes, the oceans have experienced an overall warming trend over the last century that is expected to continue as the earth’s climate changes. A warmer ocean means a larger volume of water; the oceans will rise. Suppose the average temperature of the top layer of the world's oceans were to increase from a temperature T_i; to a temperature T_f. The area of the oceans will not change, as this is fixed by the size of the ocean basin, so any thermal expansion of the water will cause the water level to rise, as shown in Figure P12.109. The original volume is the product of the original depth and the surface area, V_i = Ad_i. The change in volume is given by ΔV = A Δd.

Figure P12.109

The ocean is mostly heated from the top, by light from the sun. The warmer surface water doesn’t mix much with the colder deep ocean water. This lack of mixing can be ascribed to a lack of

A. Conduction.

B. Convection.

C. Radiation.

D. Evaporation.