Ocean Currents Flashcards
Surface currents
A horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind and that occurs at or near the ocean surface
Ocean currents
A movement of ocean water that follows a regular pattern
Coriolis effect
The apparent curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path do to earths rotation
Deflecte
To change direction
Deep currents
A stream like movement of ocean water far below the surface
Salinity
A measure of the amount of dissolved salts or solids in liquid
Upwelling
The movement of deep, cold and nutrient rich water to the surface
El Nino
A change in the surface water temperature in the Pacific ocean that produces a warm current
La Niña
A change in the eastern Pacific ocean in which surface water temperature becomes unusually cool
air mass
A large body of air where temperature and moisture content are similar throughout
Maritime polar air mass
It forms over water near the polar regions; it is also wet and cold
Continental polar air mass
It forms over land near the polar regions; is also dry and cold
Maritime tropical Air mass
It forms over water near the tropics; is also wet and warm
Continental tropical air mass
It forms Over Land in the tropics; it’s also dry and warm
Thunderstorms
A usually brief, heavy storm that consist of rain, strong winds, lightning, and thunder
Lightning
An electric discharge that takes place between two oppositely charged surfaces, such as between a cloud and the ground, between two clouds, or between two parts of the same cloud
Thunder
The sound caused by the rapid expansion of air along an electrical strike
Tornado
A destructive, rotating column of air that has very high wind speeds, is visible as a funnel shaped cloud, and touches the ground
Hurricane
A severe storm that develops over tropical oceans and whose strong winds of more than 120 km/h spiral in toward the intensely low-pressure storm center
Storm surge
A local rise in sea level near the shore that is caused by strong winds from a storm, such as from a hurricane
