Ocean Currents & Weather

Front

What is the primary driving force behind ocean currents?

Back

The Sun acts as the primary driving force, causing winds and temperature differences that impact currents.

Front

Why do differences in water temperature create movement in the ocean?

Back

Bodies of water at different temperatures have different densities.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The apparent deflection of moving air as a result of Earth's rotation.

Front

What primarily causes deep ocean currents?

Back

Temperature and salinity.

Front

What happens to a material that is less dense than water?

Back

It will float.

Front

Define ocean currents.

Back

Ocean currents are large-scale movements of water within the world's oceans, driven by factors such as wind, temperature, and salinity.

Front

What role does wind play in ocean currents?

Back

Wind drives surface currents in the ocean, influencing weather patterns and climate.

Front

Explain how temperature affects water density.

Back

Warm water is less dense than cold water, causing it to rise, while cold water sinks.

Front

What is the relationship between salinity and water density?

Back

Higher salinity increases water density, causing denser water to sink.

Front

How does the Earth's rotation affect ocean currents?

Back

The Earth's rotation causes the Coriolis effect, which deflects moving water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.