Section 5B: Ocean Currents and Ice at Sea

Question 1

What are the different kinds of ice found at sea? Briefly explain how each kind is formed.

Answer 1

Sea Ice (Frozen SW)
- Pack ice (Fully developed ice, freely moving wiht iwnd and current.)
- Fast ice (Does not move.)
Ice Bergs (Frozen FW, large pieces)
- Developed from glaciers, big chunks fall from mountains into the water, floats freely with wind and current, it gets melted off slowly due to the warm temperature and errosion from the current.
River Ice (FW brought down in river)

Question 2

Briefly explain the possible path of an iceberg from the glaciers of eastern Greenland to the Grand Banks.

Answer 2

Question 3

List possible indications of the proximity of an iceberg.

Answer 3

Visual:
- Big chunks of ice
Audible:
- Loud sound of ice breaking
Sea condition:
- Sudden dampening of swell
Temperature:
- Sudden drop in both sea and air temperature.

Question 4

List the causes that could result in an iceberg becoming smaller.

Question 5

Define the following terms:
a. Fast ice
b. Pack ice

Answer 5

a. Fast Ice
- Fully developed.
- Freely moves with the current and wind.

b. Pack ice
- Still developing.
- Does not move.

Question 6

State the precautions that should be taken when navigating in ice.

Question 7

What is the International Ice Patrol and outline its duties?

Question 8

Briefly explain the following causes of ocean currents: Wind Drift, Gradient, Upwelling.

Give at least two examples of each of the above.

Question 9

Briefly explain what warm and cold currents are. Give three examples of each.

Question 10

State three examples of the effect ocean currents have on the climate of various parts of the world.