Surface Currents
Which most likely causes the movement of warm surface ocean currents?
A. Sunlight heats air forming strong winds that push currents.
B. Low and high tides create energy for current movement.
C. Shifting ocean plates force water toward the poles.
D. Warm waters help in the melting of icebergs and glaciers.
A. Sunlight heats air forming strong winds that push currents.
When molecules absorb more thermal energy and vibrate more, they ___.
spread out
!!!DAILY DOUBLE!!!
What kind of heat transfer occurs in a hot air balloon? How do you know?
convection
Wind is caused by ______ .
Thermal energy from the Sun OR the Sun
What causes some water to be higher in the ocean than other water?
density
What are streams of water that flow near the top of the ocean?
surface currents
When molecules absorb more thermal energy they __ more.
vibrate
All thermal energy goes from __ to ___.
hot to cold
What causes surface currents?
wind
What is salinity?
how much salt there is in the water
The British Isles are at about the same latitude as Central Canada, but the temperature there is much more mild. What Ocean Surface Current causes this phenomenon?
The Gulf Stream
When molecules absorb thermal energy, they vibrate more, spread out and become less __.
dense
Warm air ____.
rises; goes up
When surface currents hit land and curve, what is caused?
continental deflection
What two factors determine density of ocean water?
salinity and temperature
What direction do surface currents (gyres) move in the Northern hemisphere?
clockwise
When molecules of air absorb more thermal energy, they vibrate more, spread out, become less dense and __.
rise; go up.
How does the sun transfer heat?
through radiation
What factor causes curves in the wind and surface currents?
Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect)
Where in the world do cold deep currents come to the surface?
near the poles
What are the two types of currents and where do they form?
warm and cold
Warm currents start near the equator and the cold currents form near the poles.
From areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
When hot air goes up and cooler air goes down, what method of heat transfer is taking place?
Give three examples.
convection
What 3 forces determine surface currents?
wind, Coriolis Effect and Continental deflection
What do we call it when deep currents come to the surface?
upwelling