Surface Currents
What is the difference in surface currents and deep ocean currents?
Surface currents flow near the top of the ocean and are affected by global winds, the Coriolis effect, and continental deflection
Deep ocean currents flow near the bottom of the ocean and are affected by temperature and salinity differences
What is the main reason cold-water currents flow beneath warm-water currents?
Cold water is more dense than warm water and cold water will sink while warm water will rise
The atmosphere flows in large convection currents. Explain how this works:
Warm air rises and cool air sinks causing wind to flow in a circular motion
Which three factors could affect the temperature of an area?
Latitude
Elevation/Altitude
Distance from large bodies of water
Radiation (the sun's rays in the form of electromagnetic rays) transfers solar energy from the sun to Earth's surface which causes:
The circulation of the Earth's atmosphere (wind) and Earth's ocean currents
What type of current would carry warm water away from the equator?
Surface Current
How is water temperature and water density related?
As temperature decreases (gets colder), water density increases (becomes more dense)
Name the two main causes of wind (atmospheric convection currents) on Earth:
The uneven heating of Earth's surface
Differences in air pressure
Draw a picture of a sea breeze, include H and L, and temperatures, arrows for wind flow direction, and a symbol for day or night
What is the temperature of the land and a large body of water during the day?
What is the temperature of the land and a large body of water during the night?
warmer/cooler
cooler/warmer
Name the three factors that most affect ocean surface currents:
Global winds
Coriolis Effect
Continental Deflection
Ocean currents on Earth are caused by:
Global winds, Coriolis effect, continental deflection, and differences in temperature and salinity
On Earth, the equator receives more solar energy than the poles. What three things are caused by the uneven heating of Earth's surfaces?
Wind convection currents
Global wind patterns
Air pressure differences
The leeward side of the mountain will have _________ precipitation and the windward side of the mountain will have __________ precipitation.
low/high
What best explains why some areas on Earth are warmer/colder than other areas?
Temperatures on Earth are often related to latitude or how directly/intensely the sun's rays hit that part of Earth.
Name a cold ocean current and explain how cold water currents move:
California Current
Cold water currents originate at the poles and move toward the equator
Deep ocean currents are mainly caused by:
Temperature differences in the water
Salinity differences in the water
The highest air pressure on Earth is located near the ___________ and the lowest air pressure on Earth is located near the _________________.
Poles
Equator
Regions that are close to large bodies of water generally have more ______________ climates.
moderate
The higher you are above sea level (elevation/altitude), the _____________ the temperature.
colder
Name a warm water current and explain how warm water surface currents move:
Gulf Stream
Warm water currents start at the equator and move toward the poles
What causes warm water to move to cooler regions in the ocean?
Warm, less dense water rises and cooler, more dense water sinks (convection currents)
Cold, more dense air sinks, creating areas of ________ pressure.
Warm, less dense air rises, creating areas of _______ pressure.
High
Low
What happens to the temperature as you climb higher and higher into the atmosphere (troposphere)?
Temperatures get colder the higher you go in the troposphere
The easterlies blow from _________ to __________, and are located near the ________________.
east to west
poles