Ocean Currents Vocab

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Atmosphere

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The layer of gas surrounding a planet that is held in place by gravity.

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Atmospheric Movement

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Global air circulation patterns within the atmosphere held to Earth by gravity and warmed as heat radiates from Earth; influenced by convection of warm, less dense air (rises and spreads out) and cold, dense air (sinks).

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Climate

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Average weather patterns for a particular region.

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Convection

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Heat transfer caused by the rising of hotter, less dense fluids and the falling of cooler, more dense fluids.

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Convection Current

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A circular movement of fluids caused by the rising of hotter, less dense fluid and the falling of cooler, more dense fluid.

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Coriolis Effect

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The apparent deflection of moving air, as seen by an observer on Earth, is a result of Earth's rotation.

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Density

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The amount of matter in a given space or volume, or the value for water at 0°C and standard sea-level atmospheric pressure is 1g/cm3.

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Global

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Relating to the whole world.

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Ocean Currents

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Directional movements of ocean water; surface currents result from steady winds over the ocean surface; deep currents result from density variations due to temperature and salinity differences.

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Rotation

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The spinning of Earth on its axis that causes day and night to occur.