What causes ocean acidification?

The ocean absorbing carbon dioxide

How does the ocean help regulate climate?

It stores and moves heat and carbon

Ocean Science Quiz With Answers: Test Your Knowledge

This ocean science quiz covers how much of Earth the ocean covers, the five oceans, waves and tsunamis, tides, currents, marine food webs, ocean acidification and the ocean's role in climate. Ten questions covering key facts from the science of the sea.

Start Ocean Science Quiz With Answers Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Cover
About how much of Earth's surface does the ocean cover?
Oceans
Which ocean is the largest?
Fifth
Which ocean was recognized by National Geographic in 2021?
Waves
What creates most ocean waves?
Tsunami
What usually causes tsunamis?
Oxygen
Which tiny organisms produce much of Earth's oxygen?
Acid
What causes ocean acidification?
Study
What is the study of the ocean called?
Largest
What is the largest animal ever known?
Climate
How does the ocean help regulate climate?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: About how much of Earth's surface does the ocean cover?
Answer: About 71%
It holds about 97% of Earth's water.
Q2: Which ocean is the largest?
Answer: Pacific
It is larger than all land combined.
Q3: Which ocean was recognized by National Geographic in 2021?
Answer: Southern Ocean
It surrounds Antarctica.
Q4: What creates most ocean waves?
Answer: Wind
Tides are a different kind of wave.
Q5: What usually causes tsunamis?
Answer: Undersea earthquakes
They can cross whole oceans.
Q6: Which tiny organisms produce much of Earth's oxygen?
Answer: Phytoplankton
They are microscopic algae.
Q7: What causes ocean acidification?
Answer: The ocean absorbing carbon dioxide
It harms shell builders.
Q8: What is the study of the ocean called?
Answer: Oceanography
It includes physics, chemistry and biology.
Q9: What is the largest animal ever known?
Answer: Blue whale
It can exceed 30 meters.
Q10: How does the ocean help regulate climate?
Answer: It stores and moves heat and carbon
Currents spread heat worldwide.

Ocean Science Quiz – The Science of the Sea

Oceanography studies the ocean through physics, chemistry, geology and biology. The ocean covers about 71% of Earth and holds most of its water, divided into the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans.

Winds create waves, the Moon drives tides and currents move heat around the planet. Tiny phytoplankton form the base of food webs and produce much of the oxygen we breathe, while blue whales, the largest animals ever, feed on krill.

The ocean shapes climate by storing heat and carbon, but this changes it too, causing warming, rising seas and acidification. Studying and protecting the ocean helps protect life on Earth.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is for anyone wanting a broad review of ocean science.

How much of Earth is ocean
Which oceans exist
What creates waves and tsunamis
Why phytoplankton matter
How the ocean affects climate

Did You Know?

The average ocean depth is about 3.7 km.
Sound travels faster in water than air.
Most volcanic activity is underwater.
The ocean has rivers of brine on the seafloor.
Sea levels have risen about 20 cm since 1900.