Vocabulary
Density
A measure of the amount of particles in a given space.
Cold water ___________, warm water __________.
sinks rises
Warm ocean currents move from
a. pole to pole
b. pole to equator
c. equator to pole
c. equator to pole
The sun's rays shine more directly at the:
Equator
Latitude
A distance of a place north or south of the equator.
How do ocean currents help regulate the climate of the earth?
They circulate warm and cold water from the equator to the poles and back to the equator. Keeping ocean water from being too hot or too cold.
Based on ocean currents which US coast has a warmer climate? West or East?
East Coast
True or False:
All parts of the earth absorb the same amount of thermal energy from the sun.
False
Ocean current
The movement of seawater in a particular direction.
Why do wind and ocean current curve and not travel in a straight line?
The Coriolis effect, water temperature, and landforms create a gire and the water moves in a spiral shape.
Surface ocean water will move in the direction of the winds until it encounters:
landmasses
The process of heat transfer from high heat to low heat in liquids is called
Convection
Climate
Weather conditions in a region over an extended period of time.
Coriolis effect
an effect due to the rotation of the earth that causes a shift in the movement of surface wind and water.
Density of ocean water is affected by which of the following?
a. salinity
b. wind patterns over the water
c. temperature of the water
a. salinity
c. temperature of the water
The transfer of physical heat through touch is
Conduction
Salinity
The amount of dissolved salt in water.
How does salinity affect ocean currents?
low salinity rises to the surface and high salinity sinks to the bottom.
What two things cause polar ocean water sink?
increased salinity and decreased temperatures
Which changes temperature more dramatically? Water or Land
Land