OCEAN CURRENTS

Global air circulation patterns within the atmosphere that are 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)

• atmospheric movement

• climate

• weather

• convection

Prevailing weather patterns for a particular region

• rotation

• salinity

• temperature

• climate

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

• climate

• Coriolis Effect

• convection

• density

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

• global

• ocean currents

• density

• convection current

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

• atmospheric movement

• Coriolis Effect

• temperature

• salinity

The amount of matter in a given space or volume; a relationship between mass and volume (less dense matter will form layers above denser matter.)

• density

• temperature

• volume

• gravity

Relating to the whole world

• gravity

• atmosphere

• convection

• global

A directional movement 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.

• cold front

• hurricane

• ocean current

• tide

To spin on an axis; the spinning of Earth on its axis that causes day and night to occur

• revolution

• rotation

• gravity

• mass

Saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water

• salinity

• temperature

• density

• mass