Vertical Currents
Horizontal Currents
Go with the flow....
The currents mix it all up
Map Questions
100
What is the one factor that creates vertical currents?
Differences in water density.
100
How deep in the ocean to horizontal currents go?
1000-2000 feet
100
What are the two different types of currents?
Vertical and surface/horizontal.
100
Does ocean water contain just water? Explain your answer.
Ocean water contains dissolved gases and salts.
100
Is the water on the west coast of South America hot or cold? Why?
Cold because it is coming from the Antarctic Sea.
200
What two factors create differences in ocean water density?
Water temperature and salinity.
200
What two factors create surface currents?
Wind and the Coriolis effect.
200
What is an ocean current?
The flow or movement of ocean water.
200
Does all ocean water have the same amount of salt in it?
NO
200
Why does Western Europe have a warm climate?
The Gulf Stream brings up warm water from the East Coast of the United States.
300
Why do hot and cold water not mix, but instead form layers when they meet?
Because they have different densities. The denser liquid (cold water) sinks to the bottom.
300
What causes the Coriolis effect?
The rotation of the Earth
300
Where is the coldest ocean water found?
Near the North and South Poles.
300
Salinity is a measure of _________________.
The amount of salt dissolved in water.
300
Why is the water at Brazilian beaches always so warm?
Water comes from near the equator.
400
What is the name for the vertical current where cold water rises from the deep ocean to the surface?
Upwelling
400
What is a gyre?
A large circular surface current.
400
You have a sample of fresh water and a sample of salty ocean water. Without tasting them, how could you figure out which was the salty ocean water?
Set up an experiment to test which water is more dense.
400
Where is the warmest ocean water found?
Near the equator.
400
If you set sail on a raft off the coast of Mozambique, where would you end up washing ashore?
Probably around Western Australia
500
What is the name for the vertical current where ocean water splits into layers and one mass of water is moved beneath another?
Downwelling
500
How are Coriolis effect currents in the Northern and Southern hemispheres different?
They rotate in opposite directions.
500
What happens to warm water when it loses heat?
It becomes colder water.
500
What happens when two currents of different salinities run into each other?
They form two layers. The mass of water with the higher salinity is more dense and will sink.
500
What direction do Coriolis effect currents move in the Northern hemisphere? Clockwise or counter-clockwise?
Clockwise.
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