Water currents Flashcards

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1
Q

What percent of the Earth is covered by the ocean?

A

71% of the earth is covered by ocean

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2
Q

What causes major ocean gyres to rotate counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere and clockwise in the northern hemisphere?

A

The coriolis effect/Earths’ rotation
Right direction in northern hemisphere
Left direction in southern hemisphere

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3
Q

Why are surface temperatures warmer in the tropics?

A

They are warmer in the tropics because they get more direct sunlight

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4
Q

What is the primary driving force behind surface ocean currents?

A

Prevailing winds (prevailing winds stay the same all the time)

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5
Q

What is the primary driving force behind deep water currents?

A

Density differences

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6
Q

How does the position of continents impact ocean currents?

A

Position of continents makes ocean currents get deflected.

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7
Q

How does gravity impact ocean currents?

A

More denser materials sink, while less dense materials float.

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8
Q

How do underwater topographic features impact ocean currents?

A

Deflects underwater currents.

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9
Q

How is density impacted by temperature?

A

The warmer temperatures make the water less dense
Colder temperatures makes the water more dense

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10
Q

How is density impacted by salinity?

A

Saltier water is denser than freshwater

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11
Q

Deep water formation areas cause water to be very dense. How do temperature, wind, and ice formation impact water density?

A

The colder the temperature, the denser the water.
When it is windy, Water gets evaporated leaving saltwater behind and making the water saltier and more dense.
If the ocean would freeze, it would leave salt behind making the ocean more salty and more dense

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12
Q

During neutral El Nino conditions, the trade winds blow air away from the coast of Peru. This causes cold, nutrient rich water to rise to the surface. What is this process called where cold water, nutrient rich, is brought up from the depths?

A

It is called upwelling

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13
Q

What is the largest and deepest ocean?

A

Pacific ocean

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14
Q

What do we call large, sub-circular currents found in every ocean?

A

Gyres

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15
Q

What is the ultimate source of energy for ocean currents?

A

The sun

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16
Q

What phenomenon moves from West to east

A

El Nino

17
Q

What happens to the water temperature off the coast of South America during El Nino?

A

Water becomes warmer

18
Q

What happens to the current in the tropical Pacific during El Nino?

A

Weakens

19
Q

What would the conditions be like under polar ice during winter at the North Pole?

A

The conditions would be cold, salty, dense

20
Q

Look at the diagram below. What are the names of the 3 global convection currents that create the prevailing winds and push ocean currents?

A

Polar, ferrel and Hadley cells

21
Q
  1. Name 3 prevailing winds that are created by global convection.
A

Westerlies, northeast and southeast trades,Polar easterlies.

22
Q
  1. What important material is transported by upwellings that enable algae to grow?
A

Nuitrants

23
Q
  1. What important material is transported by downwellings that support oceanic animal life?
A

oxygen

24
Q
  1. What important influence do ocean currents have on the Earth in terms of heat transportation?
A

Carries heat from the equator to the poles

25
Q
  1. What would happen if you set up a large beaker that is set up so that a very cold layer of blue-dyed water is placed directly on top of a very warm layer of red-dyed water.
A

The cold layer of blue-dyed water would sink and the warm red dyed water would rise making all the water mixed up and turn purple

26
Q

Name 3 things that would be different if Thor Hyerdahyl took his trip across the Pacific in a year that had strong El Nino conditions.

A

Weaker southern equatorial current which would cause his raft to move slower and make his trip longer
Slower trade winds would make the raft move slower
The water would be warmer due to reduced upwelling off the coast of Peru. This would make less fish available to eat
Warmer water near the equator would produce more storms which could damage the raft.