Global winds and ocean currents

Labelling

Annotate the picture with the correct label

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

horse shoe latitude

trade winds

trade winds

horse shoe latitude

westerlies

doldrums

doldrums

westerlies

polar easterlies

polar easterlies

WHAT IS A JET STREAM?

​A JET STREAM is a fast, narrow, and powerful air current that flows high in the atmosphere, typically at altitudes of around 6 to 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometers) above the Earth's surface. Jet streams are found in the upper levels of the troposphere and lower stratosphere and usually form at the boundaries between large air masses of different temperatures, such as the polar regions and warmer areas closer to the equator.

Multiple Choice

What causes jet streams to form?

• The Earth's gravitational pull

• Differences in air pressure near the ocean

• The boundaries between large air masses of different temperatures

• Changes in humidity levels and convection currents

Multiple Choice

In which direction do jet streams typically flow?

• North to South

• South to North

• East to West

• West to East

Multiple Choice

Where are jet streams typically located in the atmosphere?

• In the lower troposphere and the surface of the Earth

• In the upper levels of the troposphere and lower stratosphere

• Near the Earth's surface

• In between the stratosphere and mesosphere

Multiple Choice

_______ causes the Coriolis Effect

• Earth's rotation

• gravity

• wind

• density

The Coriolis effect

• https://youtu.be/IMKa_ubu8UM

Current

A stream of steady moving water within a larger body of water

There are 2 types of currents
surface currents
deep currents
there are 4 major ocean current

Match the Ocean Surface Currents

1. Gulf Stream

2. North Atlantic Drift

3. Canary Current

4. North Equatorial Current

North
America

Europe

Africa

Ocean Surface Currents

• Occur at the surface of the ocean up to depth of several hundred meters

• They follow the Earth’s major wind patterns

surface currents move in circular patterns called Gyres .

there 5 great gyres in the oceans.

Surface currents and Global Heat Transfer

Surface currents transfer thermal energy by moving cold and warm water around the globe.

A surface current warms or cools the air above it.

Winds picks up moisture as they move surface currents.

Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift cause coastal areas to have temperate climates in the Atlantic Ocean - from America to England

*

Multiple Choice

Surface currents are mainly caused by

• The Coriolis Effect
• Cold and Warm Water
• Convection
• Wind

Multiple Choice

motion of the ocean created by wind patterns

• waves

• tides

• currents

Multiple Choice

Why are ocean currents important?

• ocean currents allow people to sail around the world

• ocean currents move the continents from one place to another

• ocean currents move heat energy from the equator to the poles

• Ocean currents affect the rotation of the Earth

Labelling

Annotate the picture match the ocean surface currents

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Canary current

North Equatorial current

Europe

Africa

North America

North Atlantic drift

Gulf stream

Multiple Choice

What are a circular system of currents in the Earth's major oceans?

• ocean current

• gyre

• upwelling

• conveyor belt

Multiple Choice

Where is ocean water the densest.

• The surface
• The middle
• The bottom
• Lake Michigan

Multiple Choice

Constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity. It moves water around the globe.

• California Current

• Global Conveyor Belt

• Surface Currents

• Gulf Stream

Multiple Choice

What do we call the constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by differences in temperature and salinity?

• California Current

• Global Conveyor Belt

• Surface Currents

• Gulf Stream

Multiple Choice

Two types of ocean currents are

• local and global
• sea and land
• surface and deep
• warm and cold

Multiple Choice

Warm ocean currents generally come from

• The North Pole
• The South Pole
• The Equator
• Both A and B

Multiple Choice

There are (is) _______ major gyres in each ocean.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

If a material is less dense then water, it will

• sink

• float

• be neutrally buoyant

• freeze

Multiple Choice

What heats the Earth's oceans?

• People

• Boats

• a heater

• sun

Multiple Choice

Regular movements of water far below the oceans surface are called

• Warm Currents
• Deep Currents
• Shallow Currents
• Surface Currents

Multiple Choice

The warm, strong current off the coast of Florida is the 

• Gulf Stream
• California Current
• North Equatorial Current
• Brazil Current

Multiple Choice

Currents that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called 

• Deep Currents
• Convection Currents
• Surface Currents
• Wave Currents

Multiple Choice

What are a circular system of currents in the Earth's major oceans?

• ocean current

• gyre

• upwelling

• conveyor belt

Multiple Choice

Warm ocean currents generally come from

• The North Pole

• The South Pole

• The Equator

• Both A and B

Poll

Is the Gulf Stream a warm or cold current?

• warm

• cold