Ocean&Atmosphere
Currents from the equator are...
warm
Where does most of the energy that warms Earth’s surface come from?
The Sun
What is latitude?
Latitude is the distance of a place north or south of Earth's equator.
Define climate in a short phrase.
Climate: general weather patterns over a long period of time.
Current from the poles are...
Cold
How does the air get its energy?
Energy warms Earth’s surface and then transfers to the air above the surface.
Why are the poles so cold?
Get less energy from the sun
What is a prevailing wind?
Prevailing winds are winds that move in one direction and are strong enough to push ocean currents.
True/False: If the position of the continents change, ocean currents change too.
TRUE
State the key rule about the direction of energy transfer between warmer and colder substances.
Energy transfers from warmer substances to colder substances.
How does being closer to the equator affect the amount of energy a place receives from the Sun?
Places closer to the equator get more energy from the Sun.
What does the term "equator" mean in one sentence?
The equator is the imaginary line that divides Earth into northern and southern hemispheres.
True/False: If the prevailing winds change, ocean currents stay the same
FALSE
Describe what happens to air temperature when a warm current meets cooler air (include which way energy moves)
Energy moves from the warmer ocean current into the cooler air, so the air gains energy and its temperature increases.
Predict whether a city near the equator or a city near the pole will generally have higher average temperatures — and why.
The city near the equator will generally be warmer because it receives more energy from the sun.
Define ocean current in one sentence.
An ocean current is ocean water flowing in a continuous path.
What are the two things that determine the direction of an ocean current?
Prevailing winds and position of continents
Describe what happens to air temperature when a cold current meets warmer air (include which way energy moves).
Energy moves from the warmer air to the cooler ocean current, so the air loses energy and its temperature decreases.
Explain how latitude and ocean currents together can help determine the climate of a coastal city.
Latitude sets the baseline solar energy a place gets; ocean currents can add or remove energy (warm currents raise temperatures, cold currents lower them), so together they help determine a coastal city’s climate.
Use the words "energy transfers," "warmer current," and "cooler air" in one clear sentence that describes what happens when a warm current flows past a place.
Example sentence: Energy transfers from a warmer current to cooler air, so when a warmer current flows past a place, energy moves into the air and the air’s temperature increases.