Ocean Currents & Climate

Which best explains the cause of currents that move north from the equator?

• Cold water at the poles rises and moves toward the tropics.

• Warm water near the coastline rises and moves toward the poles

• Cold water deep in the ocean rises and moves toward the tropics

• Warm water at the equator rises and moves toward the poles.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following the main reason water at the surface of the ocean is warmer than water at the bottom of the ocean?

• Water at the bottom of the ocean contains more dissolved solids

• Water at the surface of the ocean absorbs more energy from the sun

• Friction is created by fast moving currents at the surface of the ocean

• Wave action transfers heat from the bottom of the ocean to the surface.

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The Gulf Stream in the Northern Hemisphere and the Brazilian Current in the Southern Hemisphere move from the equator towards the poles.

Compared to inland areas at the same latitude, the coastal areas bordering these currents will

• be warmer

• be more dry

• be cooler

• have more fog

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The Gulf Stream is warm water current that begins in the Gulf of Mexico. A diagram of the Gulf Stream is shown below.

Which best describes the movement of the Gulf Stream?

• Cold currents carry cold water from the polar zones toward the equator

• Warm currents carry warm water from the tropics toward the poles

• Warm currents carry cold water from the tropics toward the poles.

• Cold currents carry warm water from the polar zones toward the equator.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Southern California has cooler temperatures than Arizona, which is at the same latitude. What causes this temperature difference?

• a cold-water surface current off of California’s coast

• winds that form high in the California mountains

• the shade provided by the large number of trees in California

• a large deep water current running along California’s coast

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The average temperature of City Y is warmer than the average temperature of City X during the summer.

Using the map shown above, which statement best explains the hotter weather in City Y?

• Warm wind from the land keep the temperature cool all year long

• The ocean current warms the air along the coastline

• The ocean always floods City Y, keeping it near 75F all year

• City Y is located south of City X

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Springfield, Missouri, and San Francisco, California , are at similar latitudes, but they have very different climates. Springfield has very hot summers and cold winters, while San Francisco has about the sme temperaturs all year. What is the most likely reason the two citis have such different climates.

• the amount of sunlight on each city

• the distance of each city from an ocean

• the elevation above sea level of each city

• the distance of each city form the equator

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following best describes how the Gulf Stream affects the weather long the east coast?

• It makes the air less humid and brings less rain to the area

• It makes the temperature cooler and the winds stronger

• It makes the wind stronger and brings less rain to the area.

• It makes the air temperature warmer and the air more humid

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Why are ocean currents important to coastal regions?

• They produce high and low tides along coastal regions

• They can warm or cool the air temperatures along coastal regions

• They move vertically pushing warm water and nutrients to the surface along coastal regions.

• They increase the rate of precipitation as cold water moves along coastal regions

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the currents most affects the climate of the east coast of the United States?

• Gulf Stream

• Labrador Current

• North Atlantic Drift

• North Equatorial

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