Global Winds
These steady winds blow from east to west in the tropics.
Trade Winds
The apparent deflection of moving air caused by Earth’s rotation.
Corilolis effect
These are large circular systems of surface currents.
gyres
El Niño occurs when trade winds become _____.
weakened or reversed
“Thermohaline” refers to differences in these two factors.
temperature and salinity
Air rises at the equator and sinks at 30° N & S in this cell.
Hadley Cell
In which direction is air deflected in the Northern Hemisphere?
to the right
The warm current that brings heat to northwestern Europe from the east coast of the United States.
Gulf stream
During El Niño, warm water piles up in this ocean region.
Eastern Pacific (off South America)
Cold, salty water is more _____ than warm, fresh water.
dense
The winds found between 30° and 60° N/S that move storms eastward.
Westerlies
In which direction is air deflected in the southern Hemisphere?
to the left
What drives surface ocean currents primarily?
global winds
La Niña has the _____ pattern of sea surface temperatures compared to El Niño.
Opposite (cooler in east, warmer in west)
What happens to thermohaline circulation when polar ice melts?
it can slow or weaken
These winds converge at the poles and move toward 60° latitude.
Polar Easterlies
The Coriolis effect increases with this factor.
latitude
What process replaces surface water moved away from a coast by wind and also bring nutrients from deep waters to the surface?
upwelling
El Niño often brings what kind of weather to the U.S. West Coast?
heavy rain and flooding
The complete circulation pattern connecting all oceans is called the _____.
global conveyor belt
The calm area near the equator where trade winds meet.
Doldrums
Why doesn’t the Coriolis effect influence wind speed at the equator?
Because rotation speed is equal there — no lateral deflection
Cold, dense water sinks and moves along the ocean bottom in this global system.
Global conveyor belt / thermohaline circulation
ENSO stands for this.
El Niño–Southern Oscillation
Why is water particularly good at storing and transporting heat?
It has a high heat capacity