Ocean Currents

Organize these options into the right categories:

Groups:

(a) Cause ocean currents

,

(b) Not related to ocean currents

• winds

• thunderstorms

• rotation of the Earth

• water density

• tsunami

• gravity

• electromagnetic spectrum

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The total movement of all ocean currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Masses of water that flow from one place to another

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Develop from friction between the ocean and the wind that blows across the surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The arrows on the map represent:

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Huge, slow moving currents that flow in a vortex.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Identify the five (5) major gyres on Earth:

b

c

d

e

a

South Atlantic gyre

Indian ocean gyre

North Atlantic gyre

North Pacific gyre

South Pacific gyre

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A localized current that flows away from the shoreline toward the ocean

What should you do if you are caught in a rip current and you are being pulled away from the shore?

Answer explanation

Swim parallel to the shore line to get out of the rip current. Do not panic and do not try to swim into the current.

Carries heat from the equator to the North Atlantic and warms the atmosphere. The region is much warmer than it would otherwise be.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6