Ocean Events [U2]

Question 1

What are gyres? What causes them?

Answer 1

Patterns in the surface ocean currents that are roughly circular, caused by land barriers.

Question 2

What are circumpolar currents and why do they form?

Answer 2

They are currents that don’t go in a circle because there are no land barriers

Question 3

What’s upwelling? What are the benefits?

Answer 3

The movement of cold and warm water. Wind pushes warm water away and cold water rises. This causes cold/hot climates. The nutrient rich water can bring sea-life which means an opportunity for fishing.

Question 4

What does the word termohaline mean?

Answer 4

Termo - Temperature
Haline - Salinity

Question 5

What is the process of termohaline circulation?

Answer 5

• Water is blown to the north
• Some of the water freezes and the salt mixes with other water
• The cold and now dense water sinks
• Water travels until it warms and rises up, then the cycle repeats

Question 6

How does the ocean temperature affect climate?

Answer 6

Warm ocean water will result in more rain while cold ocean water will result in almost no rain, this causes deserts and rainforests