Optical Properties of Seawater

Description: This quiz evaluates your understanding of the optical properties of seawater, including its absorption, scattering, and reflection characteristics.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: oceanography optical properties seawater
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What is the primary factor responsible for the absorption of light in seawater?

  1. Chlorophyll

  2. Dissolved organic matter

  3. Water molecules

  4. Suspended particles


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for photosynthesis in marine plants, is the primary absorber of light in seawater, particularly in the blue and red regions of the spectrum.

Which of the following is the primary cause of scattering of light in seawater?

  1. Chlorophyll

  2. Dissolved organic matter

  3. Water molecules

  4. Suspended particles


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Suspended particles, such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, and sediment particles, are the primary scatterers of light in seawater, causing the scattering of light in all directions.

What is the term used to describe the decrease in light intensity with depth in seawater?

  1. Absorption

  2. Scattering

  3. Reflection

  4. Attenuation


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Attenuation is the term used to describe the combined effect of absorption and scattering, which results in the decrease in light intensity with depth in seawater.

Which color of light penetrates the deepest into seawater?

  1. Red

  2. Green

  3. Blue

  4. Violet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Blue light penetrates the deepest into seawater because it is less absorbed and scattered by water molecules and particles compared to other colors.

What is the primary factor influencing the color of seawater?

  1. Chlorophyll concentration

  2. Suspended sediment concentration

  3. Depth of the water

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The color of seawater is influenced by a combination of factors, including chlorophyll concentration, suspended sediment concentration, and the depth of the water.

What is the term used to describe the angle at which light is reflected from a surface?

  1. Angle of incidence

  2. Angle of reflection

  3. Angle of refraction

  4. Critical angle


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The angle of reflection is the angle at which light is reflected from a surface, measured from the normal to the surface.

What is the critical angle for light traveling from water to air?

  1. 48.6 degrees

  2. 60 degrees

  3. 72.5 degrees

  4. 90 degrees


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The critical angle for light traveling from water to air is approximately 48.6 degrees. At this angle, light is totally reflected back into the water, a phenomenon known as total internal reflection.

What is the relationship between the refractive index of a medium and the speed of light in that medium?

  1. Refractive index is inversely proportional to the speed of light

  2. Refractive index is directly proportional to the speed of light

  3. Refractive index is independent of the speed of light

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The refractive index of a medium is inversely proportional to the speed of light in that medium. This relationship is expressed by the equation n = c/v, where n is the refractive index, c is the speed of light in vacuum, and v is the speed of light in the medium.

What is the primary factor influencing the underwater visibility?

  1. Water clarity

  2. Depth of the water

  3. Angle of the sun

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Underwater visibility is influenced by a combination of factors, including water clarity, depth of the water, and the angle of the sun.

Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting the optical properties of seawater?

  1. Temperature

  2. Salinity

  3. Pressure

  4. Wind speed


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Wind speed is not a direct factor affecting the optical properties of seawater. However, wind-driven waves and currents can indirectly influence the optical properties by stirring up suspended particles and affecting water clarity.

What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where light is bent when it passes from one medium to another?

  1. Refraction

  2. Reflection

  3. Absorption

  4. Scattering


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Refraction is the phenomenon where light is bent when it passes from one medium to another, such as from air to water or from water to glass.

What is the relationship between the wavelength of light and its ability to penetrate seawater?

  1. Longer wavelengths penetrate deeper

  2. Shorter wavelengths penetrate deeper

  3. Wavelength has no effect on penetration depth

  4. It depends on the specific wavelength


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Longer wavelengths of light, such as red and orange, penetrate deeper into seawater compared to shorter wavelengths, such as blue and violet, due to reduced absorption and scattering.

What is the primary cause of the blue color of the ocean?

  1. Reflection of the sky

  2. Absorption of red and orange light

  3. Scattering of blue light

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The blue color of the ocean is primarily caused by the scattering of blue light by water molecules and particles in the water. This scattering is known as Rayleigh scattering.

What is the term used to describe the ratio of the intensity of reflected light to the intensity of incident light?

  1. Reflectance

  2. Transmittance

  3. Absorptance

  4. Scattering coefficient


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Reflectance is the term used to describe the ratio of the intensity of reflected light to the intensity of incident light. It is a measure of how much light is reflected from a surface.

What is the primary factor influencing the optical properties of seawater in coastal areas?

  1. Chlorophyll concentration

  2. Suspended sediment concentration

  3. Depth of the water

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

In coastal areas, the optical properties of seawater are influenced by a combination of factors, including chlorophyll concentration, suspended sediment concentration, and the depth of the water.

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