Oceans and Climate

Which of the following factors can affect ocean currents?

• wind

• The earth's rotation (Coriolis effect)

• The salinity of ocean water

• All of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Cold, salty water at the poles sinks. Therefore, cold currents are more ______ than warm ocean currents.

• Wind-driven

• Dense

• Equatorial

• Rotational

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Based on the Surface Ocean Currents diagram, which of the following would accurately describe climate in South America?

• The climate of the East and West Coast should be exactly the same.

• The climate of the East Coast tends to be warmer than the West Coast.

• The climate of the West Coast tends to be warmer than the East Coast.

• Warm ocean currents run along both coastlines in South America.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Surface ocean water will move in the direction of the winds until it encounters _______.

• salt

• dissolved oxygen

• sun rays

• landmasses

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Why do warm currents develop at the equator? Refer to the image.

• At the equator, sunrays strike the earth more directly, resulting in warmer temperatures.

• At the poles, sunrays strike the earth more directly, resulting in warmer temperatures.

• At the equator, sunrays travel a longer distance, striking the earth over a larger area, resulting in warmer temperatures.

• Warm currents develop all over the earth, as sunrays strike the earth with the same intensity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

True or False: Colder ocean water can be found at latitudes closer to the poles.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Sammy is conducting an experiment in class to learn about ocean currents, water temperature, and density. One pipette contains ice-cold yellow water. The second pipette contains hot red water. What will happen when Sammy adds a drop of both types of water to a beaker containing room temperature water?

• The hot red water will sink while the yellow cold water will float on the surface.

• The hot red water and cold yellow water will immediately mix to create orange water.

• The hot red water will float on the surface while the cold yellow water will sink.

• Both water samples will sink to the bottom of the container.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Observe the map of the great ocean conveyor belt below. Choose the most likely scenario for what would happen to the climate in Great Britain if the conveyor belt slowed or stopped and why? The arrow is pointing to Great Britain.

• The temperature would increase because more warm water would be carried toward Great Britain.

• The temperature would decrease as less warm water moves toward Great Britain because the movement of the conveyor belt changes.

• The temperature in Great Britain would not change.

• The temperature would increase because more cold water would be carried toward Great Britain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A blue ice cube with high salinity is added to a container of water that has low salinity. The ice cube soon begins to melt. Predict what will happen next.

• The cold salt water in the ice cube will flow to the bottom of the container because cold salty water is less dense than the low-salinity water in the container.

• The cold salt water in the ice cube will flow to the bottom of the container because cold salty water is more dense than the low-salinity water in the container.

• The cold salt water in the ice cube will float at the top of the low-salinity water in the container.

• The cold salt water in the ice cube will flow to the middle of the container because it has the same density as the low-salinity water in the container.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

What was the mean (average) precipitation in Packwood, WA in January?

• 9 Inches

• 6 inches

• 3 inches

• 1 inch

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4