Ocean Currents Notes

Multiple Choice

Why are ocean currents important for life on Earth?

• They help regulate climate and temperature.

• They provide habitats for marine life.

• They are responsible for the movement of tectonic plates.

• They create new land masses.

Open Ended

Describe how the Sun indirectly affects the movement of surface currents in the ocean.

Multiple Choice

Based on the diagram, what is the difference in the path of a projectile fired northward versus southward due to the Coriolis effect?

• Both paths curve to the right.

• The northward path curves right, the southward path curves left.

• Both paths curve to the left.

• There is no difference in the paths.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best explains why surface currents in the northern and southern hemispheres flow in different directions?

• The Coriolis effect causes currents to curve differently in each hemisphere.

• Surface winds are stronger in the southern hemisphere.

• Continents are larger in the northern hemisphere.

• The Sun heats the northern hemisphere more than the southern hemisphere.

Multiple Select

Which of the following factors can influence the direction and flow of surface currents?

Select all that are correct.

• Coriolis effect

• Continents

• Surface winds

Draw

Draw how surface currents move in the North and South Atlantic Oceans.

Use RED for warm water, and BLUE for cold water.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the movement of deep ocean currents as shown in the diagram?

• Warm water moves along the surface from the equator toward the poles, while cold water moves along the bottom from the poles toward the equator.

• Cold water moves along the surface from the equator toward the poles, while warm water moves along the bottom from the poles toward the equator.

• Both warm and cold water move only along the ocean surface.

• Deep ocean currents do not involve temperature differences.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements are true about deep ocean currents?

• They are caused by differences in water density.

• They are influenced by temperature and salinity.

• They only occur near the ocean surface.

• They help transport heat around the planet.

Open Ended

Explain how the process of deep ocean circulation helps regulate Earth's climate.

Multiple Choice

What causes deep ocean currents to form, according to the information provided?

• Differences in water density due to temperature and salinity

• Wind patterns on the ocean surface

• The rotation of the Earth only

• Tidal forces from the moon

Open Ended

How does water temperature and salinity (saltiness) change the density of water?

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about convection currents in the ocean are correct?

• Surface currents carry warm water to polar regions

• Deep ocean currents carry water to the equatorial regions

• Warm water sinks because it is more dense

• Cool water sinks because it is more dense

Multiple Choice

What causes water to become part of the deep ocean currents?

• It cools and becomes more dense

• It warms and becomes less dense

• It evaporates

• It freezes

Open Ended

Explain how the Gulf Stream affects the climate of the regions it passes by.

Open Ended

As water near the equator evaporates, what happens to the salinity of the water and why?

Open Ended

If ice near the poles melts, what would happen to the salinity of the water and why?

Open Ended

How do ocean currents affect the climate of coastal regions?

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between surface currents and deep ocean currents?

• Surface currents are driven by wind, while deep ocean currents are driven by differences in water density.

• Surface currents are found only near the equator, while deep ocean currents are found at the poles.

• Surface currents move vertically, while deep ocean currents move horizontally.

• Surface currents are caused by tides, while deep ocean currents are caused by evaporation.