Ocean Currents

What are the two main kinds of ocean currents?

Surface currents are caused by the winds that blow over them. True or False?

• True

• False

Fill in the blank: Surface currents are more likely to be warm currents due to the fact that warm water is less dense and ______ to the top of the ocean.

• floats

• sinks

• evaporates

• freezes

Explain how density currents are formed in the ocean.

• Density currents are formed by the wind blowing across the ocean surface.

• Density currents are formed by differences in water temperature and salinity.

• Density currents are formed by the gravitational pull of the moon.

• Density currents are formed by underwater volcanic eruptions.

The Gulf Stream is a significant ocean current because it:

• regulates the climate of the East Coast of the United States and Western Europe

• is the largest ocean current in the world

• originates from the Indian Ocean

• is responsible for the El Niño phenomenon

What direction do ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere primarily travel?

• A) Clockwise

• B) Counterclockwise

What is the Coriolis effect?

• The deflection of moving objects caused by the rotation of the Earth

• A phenomenon related to the gravitational pull of the moon

• The effect of ocean currents on global climate

• A type of wind pattern observed near the equator

What are large circular patterns of rotating ocean water called?

• A) Gyres

• B) Vortexes

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

• A large area of ocean debris in the Pacific Ocean

• A type of marine animal

• A famous surfing spot

• A Pacific island

A convection current is defined as:

• a circular movement of fluid caused by the rising of hotter, less dense fluid and the sinking of cooler, denser fluid.

• a linear movement of fluid from high pressure to low pressure.

• a random movement of particles in a fluid.

• a steady flow of fluid in a single direction.