The Basics
What is an ocean current?
Water moving in the ocean like a river.
Where do you find surface currents?
At the top of the ocean.
Does heavy water sink or float?
It sinks to the bottom.
What happens when an ocean current hits a continent or land?
It turns around or changes direction.
Another word for "heavy" in science is ______.
Dense
What are the two main types of ocean currents?
Surface currents and Deep currents.
What is the main thing that pushes or causes surface currents?
Wind
What are two things that make ocean water heavy (dense)?
Salt (salinity) and Cold temperatures.
The Coriolis Effect causes water to curve because the Earth is doing what?
Spinning (rotating) on its axis
To "deflect" means to ______ ______.
change direction
What do ocean currents carry or move around the world?
Heat (thermal energy)
Warm surface currents come from this hot area in the middle of the Earth.
The Equator
What is the word for the amount of salt in water?
Salinity
In the Northern Hemisphere, which way does the water curve?
Right (clockwise)
This is a system of moving water that goes all the way around the globe.
Global Conveyor Belt
True or False: Ocean currents can change the weather and climate of a city.
True
Cold surface currents come from these cold areas at the top and bottom of the Earth.
The Poles
What is the name of the cycle where heavy water sinks and light water rises?
Convection
In the Southern Hemisphere, which way does the water curve?
Left (counter-clockwise)
These are the paths of water that move like "rivers" in the sea.
Currents
How many years does it take for the "Global Conveyor Belt" to finish one full loop?
1,000 years
What is the name of the warm current that makes London’s weather warmer?
The Gulf Stream
Deep currents are caused by differences in what?
Water density
Can ocean currents go through a continent?
No, continents block the water.
This effect makes air and water curve.
The Coriolis Effect