El Niño
What is El Niño?
A climate pattern characterized by the warming of ocean waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean due to decreased Equatorial Tradewinds
What is a gyre?
A large system of rotating ocean currents due to equatorial Tradewinds.
What is a downwelling?
The process where surface water sinks into the ocean.
What causes daily tides?
The gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on Earth's oceans.
What causes spring tides?
The alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun during full and new moons.
How does El Niño affect weather patterns?
It can cause increased rainfall and flooding in some regions, while leading to droughts in others.
Name one of the five major ocean gyres.
North or South Atlantic Gyre
North or South Pacific Gyre
Indian or Australian Gyre
What is an upwelling?
The process where deep, cold water rises to the surface.
What is a tidal range?
The difference in height between high tide and low tide.
What are neap tides?
Tides that occur when the gravitational forces of the Moon and Sun are perpendicular, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides.
What is the opposite of El Niño called?
La Niña.
How do gyres affect climate?
They help distribute heat and influence weather patterns.
Why does downwelling occur?
It occurs when water is pushed together, causing it to become denser and sink.
Which type of tides have one high tide and one low tide in one day?
Diurnal
Which type of Tides cause the highest and lowest tides?
Spring Tides
What are 3 signs that an El Niño event is occurring?
Warmer sea surface temperatures, changes in fish populations, and unusual weather patterns.
What is the Coriolis effect?
The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.
Where is downwelling most commonly happening?
North Atlantic
Which type of tide has two high tides and two low tides in one day?
Semidiurnal Tides
Which Type of tides case the smallest tidal range?
Neap Tides
How often do El Niño events typically occur?
Every 2 to 7 years.
Why are gyres important for marine life?
They help transport nutrients and organisms across the ocean
Stabilize Climate
Describe one way upwellings can influence global climate.
By impacting the distribution of heat and moisture in the atmosphere especially in Europe.
Which type of tides has two uneven high and low tides in one day?
Mixed Tides
Explain why spring tides are higher than normal tides.
The combined gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun during full and new moons results in greater tidal range.