Current Events
The large‑scale movement of water in the oceans
What are ocean currents
The density of ocean water is affected by two key properties: ___ and ___.
What is temperature and salinity
Name the two main types of ocean currents
What are surface currents and deep currents
What nickname describes the circulation system of deep and surface ocean currents weaving around the globe?
What is the global conveyor belt
Ocean currents move this form of energy around the world
What is heat
Surface currents are primarily driven by this force of nature
What is wind
Is cold water more dense or less dense than warm water?
What is more dense
These currents are mostly caused by wind pushing on the water’s surface
What is surface currents
The “belt” starts where surface water sinks—usually in this ocean region
What is the North Atlantic Ocean
Near coasts, warm currents tend to make climates feel ______.
What is warm/warmer
On a spinning Earth, currents tend to curve due to this effect
What is the Coriolis Effect
This process on the ocean's surface removes fresh water, making the surface saltier
What is evaporation
Deep‑ocean currents are driven by these two factors affecting water density
What are temperature and salinity
It takes roughly this long for the full global conveyor belt loop to complete
What is about 1,000 years
This current keeps Europe’s climate much milder than other places at the same latitude
What is the Gulf Stream
This warm current hugs the East Coast of the U.S. and brings heat north
What is the Gulf Stream
Polar waters get saltier when this process removes fresh water and leaves salt behind
What is freezing
Deep currents flow through this part of the ocean
What is the deep ocean or ocean bottom
In the North Atlantic, water becomes heavy enough to sink because it’s __ and __.
What is cold and salty
They can strengthen hurricanes by supplying this kind of surface water
What is warm water
When cold and warm currents collide, this often occurs
What is a storm
When the salt concentration of water increases, what happens to its density?
What is it increases
Which moves faster: surface currents or deep‑ocean currents?
What are surface currents
This global conveyor belt helps regulate the Earth by circulating heat and ___.
What are nutrients
If a major current slowed down, it could bring extreme weather, colder regions, or less __
What is rainfall