Wind, Currents, and Climate

What causes surface currents to move in circular paths?

• strong winds
• the Coriolis effect
• salinity
• the Global Ocean Conveyor

Deep ocean currents are caused by _______

• wind

• earth's rotation

• differences in densities (temperature and salt content)

In general, surface currents that flow from the tropics toward the poles carry ______________ water.

• warm
• cold
• fresh
• oxbow lake

The Gulf Stream  ____________ nearby land areas.

• cools

• causes freezing in

• warms

• causes rain in 

A surface current effects the climate of nearby land.

• True

• False

Why was a plastic toy spill so helpful to scientists studying ocean currents?

• The toys showed them where the sea floor was.
• The ducks showed that wind currents are real.
• The Ducks helped them discover trade winds.
• The ducks gave scientists lots of data to study ocean currents.

____________ are large streams of moving water that flow through the oceans.

• La Niña

• El Niño

• Ocean currents

• Climate

What is the Gulf Stream?

• a surface current
• deep current
• a river
• a climate event

What are two factors that affect the density differences in the ocean.

• Salinity and temperature

• Density and Pressure

• Pressure and Temperature

• Salinity and El Nino

Air moves because of ______________

• differences in longitude 

• shock waves from clouds 

• differences in air temperature and pressure