ocean currents

Question 1

what are surface currents?

Answer 1

-prevailing winds provide energy for ocean currents
-gyre

Question 2

what is a gyre?

Answer 2

huge, circular moving currents systems that dominate the surfaces of the ocean

Question 3

what are the 5 main gyres?

Answer 3

north pacific, south pacific, north atlantic, south atlantic, indian ocean

Question 4

what are garbage patches?

Answer 4

garbage patches are large areas of the ocean where litter, fishing gear, and other debris - known as marine debris - collects. they are formed by rotating ocean currents called gyres. you can think of them like a big whirlpool that pulls objects in.

Question 5

what is the Coriolis effect?

Answer 5

the pattern of deflection taken by objects not firmly connected to the ground as they travel long distances around the earth

Question 6

what is coastal up-welling?

Answer 6

coastal winds combined with the coriolis effect cause surface water to move away from shore. water that moves away is replaced by cool and nutrient rich water that “upwells” from below the surface layer

Question 7

what are vertical currents?

Answer 7

-deep ocean circulation is casued by the density differences among water masses that cause denser water to sink and slowly spread out beneath the surface

Question 8

what causes seawater density to increase?

Answer 8

an increase in seawater density can be caused by either a decrease in temperature or and increase in salinity

Question 9

what happens when ice forms in the sea?

Answer 9

when sea ice forms surrounding water gets saltier, increases in density and sinks