Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate Vocabulary

Which direction do the ocean currents in the northern hemisphere flow?

• left

• right

• clockwise

• counter-clockwise

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which direction do the ocean currents in the southern hemisphere flow?

• left

• right

• clockwise

• counter-clockwise

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What causes the direction of flow of ocean currents in both hemispheres?

• The sun

• The rotation of the earth on its axis

• The temperature of the water

• El Nino

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Currents are affected by winds and

• teachers

• shape of continents

• seasons

• fate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Alesund and Khatyrka are the same distance from the equator and they are both near the ocean. Use the information on the map to answer these questions: How does the air temperature of Alesund compare to the air temperature of Khatyrka? Why?

• the same as Khatyrka. Even though the ocean water at each location is a different temperature, the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

• the same as Khatyrka. They are both near moving ocean water, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

• warmer than Khatyrka. At Alesund, energy is transferred from the ocean to the air. At Khatyrka, energy is transferred from the air to the ocean.

• warmer than Khatyrka. At Alesund, a lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air. At Khatyrka, only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Madison and Oxford are the same distance from the equator and they are both near the ocean. Use the information on the map to answer these questions: How does the air temperature of Madison compare to the air temperature of Oxford? Why?

• warmer than Oxford. At Madison, a lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air. At Oxford, only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

• warmer than Oxford. At Madison, energy is transferred from the ocean to the air. At Oxford, energy is transferred from the air to the ocean.

• the same as Oxford. They are both near moving ocean water, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

• the same as Oxford. Even though the ocean water at each location is a different temperature, the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Fairview and Washington are the same distance from the equator, and both cities are near the ocean. The ocean surface near Fairview is colder than the ocean surface near Washington. What causes the ocean to be different temperatures in different locations, and how does the air temperature compare in these two cities? (Write)

• Student describes both locations as having the same air temperature due to energy from the sun OR student suggests that the locations will have different air temperatures, but does not identify a cause for why that could happen.

• Student identifies that the two cities have different air temperatures, AND that this difference is due to ocean currents.

• Student identifies that the two cities have different air temperatures AND that this difference is due to ocean currents coming from different directions that pass the locations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Delta and Alpha are the same distance from the equator, and they are both near the ocean. Using the information in the map, how does the air temperature of Delta compare to the air temperature of Alpha? Why?

• the same as Alpha. Both locations are the same distance from the equator. The winds push the ocean water, and it turns to follow the coast in both locations, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air.

• warmer than Alpha. Moving air with a lot of energy turns and follows the coast toward Delta; moving air with only a little energy turns and follows the coast toward Alpha.

• warmer than Alpha. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. Energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Delta and energy is transferred from the air to the ocean at Alpha.

• warmer than Alpha. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. A lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Delta, and only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Alpha.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Penha and Chañaral are the same distance from the equator, and they are both near the ocean. Using the information in the map, how does the air temperature of Penha compare to the air temperature of Chañaral? Why?

• warmer than Chañaral. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. A lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Penha. Only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Chañaral.

• warmer than Chañaral. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. Energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Penha and energy is transferred from the air to the ocean at Chañaral.

• warmer than Chañaral. Moving air with a lot of energy turns and follows the coast toward Penha. Moving air with only a little energy turns and follows the coast toward Chañaral.

• the same as Chañaral. Both locations are the same distance from the equator. The winds push the ocean water, and it turns to follow the coast past both locations, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Sar and Dagon are the same distance from the equator, and they are both near the ocean. Using the information in the map, how does the air temperature of Sar compare to the air temperature of Dagon? Why?

• colder than Dagon. Moving air with only a little energy turns and follows the coast toward Sar. Moving air with a lot of energy turns and follows the coast toward Dagon.

• colder than Dagon. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. Energy is transferred from the air to the ocean at Sar and energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Dagon.

• colder than Dagon. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. A lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Dagon. Only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at Sar.

• the same as Dagon. Both locations are the same distance from the equator. The winds push the ocean water, and it turns to follow the coast past both locations, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6