Ocean Exploration

Which of the following is not true concerning marine microbes? a. They account for up to 90 percent of the ocean biomass. b. They play a minor role in biological and geochemical cycles. c. They are a potential source of new classes of antibiotics. d. They may posses genes that will help scientists combat global climate change.

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is best described as _______. a. a public and private partnership to increase understanding of the oceans b. a program to improve ocean safety c. a partnership aimed at protecting the environment d. all of the above

Which of the following best explains why autonomous underwater explorers (AUEs) will provide revolutionary new information on ocean processes? a. Previously there has not been a method to study small-scale ocean processes. b. Previously there has been too much study of small-scale ocean processes. c. Previously there has not been a method to study large-scale ocean processes. d. Previously there has been too much study of large-scale ocean processes.

Which of the following best explains the importance of studying the ocean carbon cycle? a. The oceans have a significant impact on the levels of atmospheric gases. b. It is a new field of ocean science. c. The ocean releases one quarter of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. d. All of the above

The Nereus is simply an unmanned deep-sea remote operated vehicle (ROV).

Autonomous underwater explorers will be used to gather large-scale ocean information.

How have submersibles benefited ocean exploration? a. They allow exploration of arctic waters. b. They reduce the expense of ocean exploration. c. They allow the deep ocean to be explored. d. All of the above

Which of the following is not true concerning the Nereus? a. It is able to dive deeper than any other man-made vehicle. b. It will be used to explore previously unreachable areas of the ocean. c. It is a combination automated and remote-operated vehicle. d. It has the capacity to carry two crew members.

Deep sea corals can be hundreds or thousands of years old.

Which of the following best explains the role of deep sea coral reefs in the environment? a. They are responsible for fouling fishing lines. b. They are a quick-growing food source for deep water predators. c. They provide a critical habitat for many other organisms. d. They are a record of past climate conditions.