Currents
What are ocean currents?
masses of ocean water that flow from one place to another.
Name the warm currents
Brazil Currents, Gulf Current, East Australian Current, Kurishio Current,
From where to ocean waves obtain their energy?
The wind
Is water wet?
No
Where is the California current?
Off the coast of California
What are density-driven currents?
Vertical currents of ocean water that result from density differences among water masses
Name the cold currents
Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Benguela Current, Canary Current, California Current, Peru Current
What is fetch?
the distance that the wind has traveled across open water.
What are the causes of upwelling?
Offshore winds, seafloor obstruction, coastal geometry change, lack of pycnocline
Where is the Benguela Current?
Off the west coast of the south of Africa
What is a gyre?
a circular-moving ocean current that dominates the surfaces of the oceans. Formed by Earth's wind patterns and the forces created by the rotation
Because of Earth's rotation currents are what?
deflected to the right in the Northern hemisphere, and the left in the Southern Hemisphere
What is tidal range?
the difference in height between successive high and low tides.
What happens when sea water freezes?
sea salts do not become part of the ice, leading to an increase in the salinity of the surrounding water.
Where is Peru Current?
Off the Coast of Peru
What is the Coriolis effect?
The deflection of currents away from their original course as a result of Earth's rotation.
What is upwelling?
upwelling is the upward movement of cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the ocean surface
What activity do many types of shoreline features result from?
Waves along the shoreline constantly eroding, transporting, and depositing sediment.
What happens during an El Nino event?
the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water stops in areas off of the coast of Peru.
Where is the East Australian Current?
Off the east coast of Australia
What are five ocean gyres?
North Atlantic Gyre, South Atlantic Gyre, North Pacific Gyre, South Pacific Gyre, Indian Ocean Gyre
What is an excellent example of the transfer of heat from warmer to cooler areas on Earth?
The Gulf Stream: it's the best studied due to its significant influence on climate, weather patterns, and ocean circulation.
Which tide pattern has a single high tide and a single low tide each tidal day?
A diurnal tidal pattern.
What current does the turtle in Nemo take?
Daily Double
the Eastern Australian Current
Where is the North Pacific Gyre?
In the North Pacific