Currents & Circulation
Name the current that warms Europe.
Gulf Stream
What forms where tectonic plates diverge?
Mid-ocean ridge
What ecosystem forms near hydrothermal vents?
Chemosynthetic communities
What fuels hurricane formation in the Atlantic?
Warm ocean water (at least 26°C)
What does overfishing remove that disrupts food chains?
Key predator or prey species
What drives thermohaline circulation?
Differences in temperature and salinity
Why is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge important evidence of plate tectonics?
It shows symmetrical seafloor spreading and magnetic striping.
What is coral bleaching, and what causes it?
When corals expel algae due to heat stress; caused by rising ocean temperatures.
What effect would melting Greenland ice have on ocean circulation?
It would reduce salinity and slow thermohaline circulation.
How do Marine Protected Areas help fish populations?
They allow ecosystems to recover by reducing human pressure.
Which cold current brings fog and icebergs to Canada’s coast?
Labrador Current
What feature is extremely flat and found deep on the ocean floor?
Abyssal plain
Why are hydrothermal vent communities unique?
They survive without sunlight, using chemical energy (chemosynthesis).
What could happen to Europe’s weather if the Gulf Stream weakens?
Colder winters and overall cooling in Western Europe
Name two risks of building a shipping route through an MPA.
Habitat destruction and increased pollution/noise harming marine life
What would happen globally if thermohaline circulation stopped?
Global heat distribution would break down, leading to climate disruption.
How do scientists know the seafloor is spreading?
Magnetic striping and age differences in crust on either side of ridges
What happens to fish populations when coral reefs die?
Fish lose shelter and food, leading to population collapse.
Why are hurricanes expected to get stronger with climate change?
Warmer ocean temperatures provide more energy for storms.
Give one way plastic pollution harms marine life and one way it affects humans.
Harms: animals ingest plastic; Humans: plastic enters the food chain.
How do ocean currents affect global climate?
They redistribute heat between the equator and poles, regulating temperatures.
Explain how symmetrical magnetic striping supports seafloor spreading.
It proves that new crust forms and spreads evenly from the ridge over time.
Why are coral reefs vital for both ecosystems and human economies?
They support biodiversity, protect coastlines, and drive tourism and fishing.
What is one possible long-term effect of rising sea surface temperatures?
More intense and frequent hurricanes, disrupted weather patterns
Explain how overfishing could cause collapse of a marine food web.
Removing key species destabilizes predator-prey relationships, leading to ecosystem collapse.