Ocean Current/Wind 8.10A

Front

What is a convection current?

Back

A convection current is a movement of fluid (like air or water) caused by differences in temperature and density, where warmer, less dense fluid rises and cooler, denser fluid sinks.

Front

What causes a sea breeze?

Back

A sea breeze is caused by the Sun heating the land faster than the water, leading to warmer air over the land that rises and creates a low-pressure area, drawing in cooler air from the sea.

Front

What is the primary source of energy for convection on Earth?

Back

The primary source of energy for convection on Earth is the Sun.

Front

How does the rotation of Earth affect air and water movement?

Back

The rotation of Earth causes the Coriolis effect, which influences the direction of wind and ocean currents, leading to patterns of movement in the atmosphere and oceans.

Front

What happens to warm air compared to cool air?

Back

Warm air is less dense and rises, while cool air is denser and sinks.

Front

What is the role of the Sun in driving convection currents?

Back

The Sun warms the atmosphere, causing warm air to rise and create convection currents.

Front

What are the major factors that influence ocean currents?

Back

The major factors influencing ocean currents include wind patterns, the rotation of Earth, and differences in water temperature and salinity.

Front

Define density in the context of fluids.

Back

Density is the mass of a substance per unit volume, which affects how fluids behave in terms of rising and sinking.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The Coriolis effect is the apparent deflection of moving objects (like air and water) due to the rotation of Earth, causing currents to curve rather than move in a straight line.

Front

How does uneven heating of the Earth contribute to weather patterns?

Back

Uneven heating causes differences in air pressure, leading to wind and weather patterns as air moves from high-pressure to low-pressure areas.