Chapter 2 Lesson 2 Oceans & Weather Systems Vocabulary Practice

Front

What is a storm surge?

Back

Water that has blown outward from the center of a tropical cyclone, eventually sweeping up onto the coastline as a large wave.

Front

What is a surface current?

Back

A wind-driven current that carries ocean water horizontally across the ocean's surface.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The movement of wind and water to the right or left caused by Earth's rotation.

Front

What defines a hurricane?

Back

An intense tropical storm with winds exceeding 119 km/hr.

Front

What is a typhoon?

Back

A tropical cyclone occurring especially in the region of the Philippines or the China Sea and the warm coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Front

What is an ocean current?

Back

A continuous, directed movement of seawater generated by various forces acting upon it.

Front

What are prevailing winds?

Back

Winds that blow predominantly from a single general direction over a particular point on the Earth's surface.

Front

What is a tropical cyclone?

Back

A rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a center of low pressure, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, and strong winds.

Front

What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?

Back

Both are types of tropical cyclones; the term 'hurricane' is used in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, while 'typhoon' is used in the Northwest Pacific.

Front

What role do ocean currents play in weather systems?

Back

They help regulate temperatures and influence weather patterns by transporting warm and cold water across the globe.