Air and Ocean Circulation

Ocean Currents, Air Currents and Weather

Multiple Choice

The following map shows the currents of the west and east coast of the United States. Daytona, Florida and San Diego, California are both at 32° latitude.

On June 3rd, two brothers take separate vacations with their families. Dean visits Daytona and the temperature is 82°F. Sam visits San Diego where the temperature is 68°F. Which of the following explains why the temperature difference is so great on opposite coasts?

• The Coriolis effect causes the currents to curve in different directions on opposite coasts of North America, so the temperatures are different.

• The California current originates near the equator and the Gulf Stream originates near the poles.

• The California current is cool so the temperatures on the coast are cool. The Gulf Stream runs next to Florida and is warm, so the temperatures on that coast are warmer.

• Weather is unpredictable and there is no scientific explanation for what he observed.

Multiple Choice

Imagine two towns at the same latitude (distance from the Equator), but on opposite coasts of North America. In which town would you expect to find a warmer climate?

• the town on the west coast

• the town on the east coast

• the town that is at higher elevation

• Neither, the climates would be the same

Multiple Choice

Why are surface currents at the surface of the ocean?

• colder temperature
• colder temperature & more salinty
• warmer temperature & less salinty
• less salinty

Multiple Choice

What process brings the deep cold ocean currents up to the surface?

• Conduction
• Global Wind Patterns
• Convection Currents
• Temperature and salinity

Multiple Choice

Cold ocean currents generally come from

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

Multiple Choice

Warm ocean currents generally come from

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

Multiple Choice

Ocean currents have an affect on which two things

• climate and weather
• temperature and density
• land and sea
• equator and poles

Multiple Choice

Two types of water currents are

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

Multiple Choice

Another term for the Global Conveyor Belt is _____.

• halinethermal circulation

• thermohaline circulation

• thermodensity circulation

Multiple Choice

________ and _______ affect the ocean's density and cause the Global Conveyor Belt to travel

• gravity and the Coriolis Effect

• temperature and salinity

• wind and climate

• temperature and the Coriolis Effect

Multiple Choice

The __________ is a surface current that flows along the eastern US and brings warm water to Europe.

• California Current

• Gulf Stream

• North American Gyre

• Arctic Current

Multiple Choice

_______ causes the Coriolis Effect

• Earth's rotation

• gravity

• wind

• density

Multiple Choice

Nutrients are brought to the surface for phytoplankton to use at _______.

• gyres

• eddies

• upwellings

• the equator

Multiple Choice

Decreasing ocean temperature causes the density of the water to ______.

• decrease

• increase

• stay the same

• fluctuate

Multiple Choice

______ causes deep ocean currents

• The Coriolis Effect

• gravity

• wind

• density differences

Multiple Choice

______ causes surface currents.

• The Coriolis Effect

• gravity

• density differences

• wind

Multiple Choice

The main reason that we have currents in the ocean and air is

• the sun heats the air and ocean evenly everywhere
• the heat inside the earth heats the ocean and the ocean heats the air
• the sun cannot heat both the air and water, so one must heat the other
• the sun heats air and water more at the equator because it receives more direct sunlight

Multiple Choice

The average weather conditions of a region--

• daily temperature

• weather

• climate

Multiple Choice

The condition of the air outdoors is-

• climate

• weather

• average temperature

Multiple Choice

What causes winds to form on Earth?

• solar energy
• ocean currents
• elevation differences
• uneven heating of the Earth by the sun

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about the unequal heating of land (sand) and water?

• land/sand heats up and cools off faster than water
• water heats up and cools off faster than land/sand
• land and water heat and cool at the exact same rate

Multiple Choice

Which system causes clear skies and nice weather?

• High Pressure

• Low Pressure

Multiple Choice

Which system causes storms and cloudy weather?

• High Pressure

• Low Pressure

Multiple Choice

Which front causes thunderstorms?

• Warm Front

• Cold Front

• Stationary Front

Multiple Choice

Which front brings warmer temperatures after it passes through?

• Warm Front

• Cold Front

• Stationary Front

Multiple Select

An air mass has similar .....

check all that apply

• temperature

• color

• humidity

• air pressure

• shape

Multiple Choice

The boundary that forms between two air masses when they meet is called a...

• front
• storm line
• squall line
• midaltitude

Multiple Choice

This front may bring fog or a gentle rain.

• cold front
• warm front
• stationary front
• occluded front

Multiple Choice

This type of front brings many days of precipitation.

• cold front
• warm front
• stationary front
• occluded front

Multiple Choice

A cold air mass moves underneath a warm air mass causing the warm air to rise. This  event can best be identified as — 

• cold front
• warm front
• stationary front
• occluded front

Multiple Choice

What type of front brings warm and humid weather to an area?

• cold front
• warm front
• stationary front
• occluded front

Multiple Choice

What is an air mass?

• large body of air that has about the same characteristics

• large body of air that has different characteristics

Multiple Choice

Which front has the densest air?

• Occluded

• Stationary

• Cold

• Warm

Multiple Select

Which front causes precipitation? (Check all that apply)

• Cold

• Warm

• Stationary

• Occluded