Vocab
ocean water flowing in a continuous path
ocean current
the name of the winds that flow near the center of the Earth toward the equator
trade winds
direction earth appears to be rotating if looking directly at the north pole
left (counterclockwise)
97%
the number of rubber ducks that spilled into the ocean and helped discover the flow of ocean currents
28,000
a giant pattern of moving water that spans whole oceans and moves water from place to place in a circle
gyre
the name of the winds that flow from the poles between latitudes 90°N and 60°N, and 90°S and 60°S
polar easterlies
direction earth appears to be rotating if looking directly at the south pole
right (clockwise)
name given to things (like the ocean) that absorb much CO2
carbon sink
direction warm surface ocean currents flow from
equator
general weather patterns over a long period of time
climate
the name of the winds that flow between 60°N and 30°N, and 60°S and 30°S
prevailing westerlies (westerlies)
If you were to throw a ball from the north pole to the equator, which direction would it appear to be deflected to from the perspective of the thrower?
right
Coastal areas have a _____ climate than inland areas because it is influenced by the ocean
milder
direction cold surface ocean currents flow from
poles
the variety of life on Earth, encompassing everything from genes to ecosystems
biodiversity
the direction the winds flow from the South Pole
northwest
If you were to throw a ball from the south pole to the equator, which direction would it appear to be deflected to from the perspective of the thrower?
left
main causes of currents (3)
Global wind patterns, the rotation of Earth, the shape of the ocean basins
the direction gyres flow in the northern hemisphere
to the right (clockwise)
describes the pattern of deflection taken by objects not firmly connected to the ground when moving across the earth
Coriolis effect
the direction the wind flows from between 30°N and the equator
southwest
why do objects appear to be "deflected" if they were thrown from the poles to the equator or the equator to the poles
the equator rotates faster than the poles (Coriolis effect)
why are surface currents important?
distribute heat around the planet and influence the climate
the combination of thermohaline currents and wind driven currents causes this phenomenon in the ocean
global ocean conveyor belt