Ocean Currents

Front

What causes surface currents in the ocean?

Back

Winds, which are created by the Sun.

Front

What causes wind to blow?

Back

Differences in air temperature.

Front

What type of heat transfer causes warm water to rise and cold water to sink?

Back

Convection.

Front

Why is Charleston warmer than San Diego even though they are the same distance from the Equator?

Back

Charleston is affected by the Gulf Stream.

Front

How do warm-water currents affect coastal climates?

Back

They make the coastal climate warmer than the inland climate.

Front

What is the Coriolis Effect?

Back

The Coriolis Effect is the deflection of moving objects caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Front

What is a surface current?

Back

A surface current is a horizontal movement of ocean water that is caused by wind.

Front

What is the Gulf Stream?

Back

The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Front

What is the California Current?

Back

The California Current is a cold ocean current that flows southward along the western coast of North America.

Front

What is convection in the context of ocean currents?

Back

Convection is the process of heat transfer through the movement of fluids, causing warm water to rise and cold water to sink.