ocean currents Flashcards
currents are ? that flow through the ? in a ? direction from one place to another around the ?.
Currents are caused by differences in ???
Large streams of moving water that flow through the oceans in a definite direction from one place to another around the world.
Currents are caused by differences in temperature, differences in salinity, and by wind.
surface currents are ?-driven currents which carry ?? water horizontally across the ocean water to a depth of several ? meters. They can move as fast as ? km/day.
wind-driven currents which carry warm and cold water horizontally across the ocean water to a depth of several hundred meters. They can move as fast as 100 km/day.
Currents near the ? absorbs ? energy from the ? which strike the Earth ?ly at the equator- warming up the water.
Currents near the ? release energy from the ocean, the sun’s rays strike the Earth at a ? angle at the poles and so, the water is ? in this area.
?-water currents flow from the ? toward the ? and ? water currents flow from the ? toward the ?.
Currents near the equator absorbs thermal energy (heat) from the sun’s rays which strike the Earth directly at the equator- warming up the water.
Currents near the poles release thermal energy from the ocean, the sun’s rays strike the Earth at a low angle at the poles and so, the water is cold in this area.
Warm-water currents flow from the equator toward the poles and cold water currents flow from the poles toward the equator.
Earth’s major wind belts called , “?” influence the ? of ocean currents and the ? they move.
Earth’s major wind belts called , “prevailing winds” influence the formation of ocean currents and the direction they move.
Earth’s oceans contain large, looped systems of surface currents called ?
Gyres in the? hemisphere circle clockwise. Gyres in the ? hemisphere circle counterclockwise. and it’s affected by ?
Earth’s oceans contain large, looped systems of surface currents called gyres.
Gyres in the northern hemisphere circle clockwise. Gyres in the southern hemisphere circle counterclockwise. Coriolis effect
? Forms when a mass of seawater becomes more dense than the surrounding water.
? currents move and mix water around the Earth, moving ?er than surface currents, carrying ?temp water from where to where
Forms when a mass of seawater becomes more dense than the surrounding water.
Density currents move and mix water around the Earth, moving slower than surface currents, carrying cold water from poles to equator.
Forms when a mass of seawater becomes more dense than the surrounding water.
Density currents move and mix water around the Earth, moving slower than surface currents, carrying cold water from poles to equator.
How can density increase?
? increases
? decreases
Gravity causes dense (temper) seawater to sink beneath less dense seawater. ? moves the water to the surface.
How can density increase?
salinity increases
temperature decreases
Gravity causes dense (cooler) seawater to sink beneath less dense seawater. Upwelling moves the water to the surface.
? is the movement of cold water to the surface to replace warmer water
This brings ? and ? from deep ocean layers keeping the ocean ecosystems balanced.
upwelling is the movement of cold water to the surface to replace warmer water
This brings tiny organisms, minerals from deep ocean layers keeping the ocean ecosystems balanced.
2 importance of currents
maintain the ocean waters at a stable low temperature.
The ocean absorbs heat from the sun and stores it as it moves.
currents’ impacts
movement of warm and cool water helps warm and cool the air.
This helps control our ? and ? patterns around the world.
? currents warm and cool the air above it, influencing the climate of the land near the coast
movement of warm and cool water helps warm and cool the air.
This helps control our climate and weather patterns around the world.
Surface currents warm and cool the air above it, influencing the climate of the land near the coast
conveyor belt is a large system of ? that affect weather and climate. It is a global “belt” of ? and ? currents that distribute ? energy around Earth.
A large system of ocean currents that affect weather and climate. It is a global “belt” of surface and density currents that distribute thermal energy around Earth.
