Atmosphere and Wind
When air cools, what happens to its particles and density?
This is the main source of energy that drives surface ocean currents.
Wind
What happens to the density of ocean water when it becomes colder?
it increases
What process changes liquid water into water vapor?
evaporation
About what percentage of Earth's total water is salt water?
97%
In a convection cell, what happens to warm air near a heat source?
It Rises
Name the three major factors that influence surface ocean currents.
Global winds, continental deflections, and the Coriolis effect.
What does the term salinity measure?
The amount of salt in water
what process changes water vapor into liquid water droplets?
Condensation
Where does most of the water in Earth's atmosphere come from?
Evaporation of Ocean Water
Why does a sea breeze usually blow from the water towards the land?
the air above land is warmer causing it to rise and the cool air above the water falls and moves toward the land
in which direction do ocean gyres generally rotate in the Southern Hemisphere? (clockwise or counter)
Counterclockwise
What happens to ocean salinity when lots of water evaporates and very little precipitation occurs?
Salinity Increases
What is the process in which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere?
Transpiration
What happens when water droplets in a cloud become large enough that gravity pulls them toward Earth?
Precipitation occurs.
what causes wind to blow from one place to another
Uneven heating of Earth's surface
What happens when cold, dense water is placed above warmer, less-dense water?
The cold water sinks and the warm water rises.
Why does cold or salty ocean water sink?
it is more dense than surrounding water
What is the process called when water soaks into soil and rock beneath Earth's surface?
infiltration.
Where is most of Earth's fresh water stored?
In Ice
Earth’s rotation causes moving air and water to curve away from a straight path. This phenomenon is called this.
Coriolis Effect
What process causes cold, nutrient-rich water from deep in the ocean to rise to the surface?
Upwelling
How can differences in temperature and salinity help create deep ocean currents?
They can make water more dense, causing it to sink and flow as a deep ocean current.
What two things provide the energy or force that drive Earth's water cycle?
energy from the sun and gravity
How could the same water molecules that a dinosaur drank millions of years ago eventually become part of a raindrop today?
Water continuously changes state and is cycled through moving among the atmosphere, land, oceans, and living things.