Global Water Movement

What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by water?

• 71%

• 96.5%

• 50%

• 85%

What is the primary driving force behind the formation of ocean currents?

• The Sun

• The Moon

• Earth's rotation

• Tidal forces

Which ocean current is responsible for moving warm, less dense surface water from the tropics north along the eastern coast of the United States?

• Gulf Stream

• Kuroshio Current

• California Current

• Antarctic Circumpolar Current

What causes deep ocean convection currents to form?

• Uneven heating of Earth and the density of ocean water

• Wind patterns and Earth's rotation

• Tidal forces and gravitational pull

• Volcanic activity and earthquakes

What is the densest type of water in the ocean?

• Cold saltwater with high salinity

• Warm freshwater

• Cold freshwater

• Warm saltwater with low salinity

What is the effect of the Gulf Stream on the climate of countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean in Europe?

• Moderation of climate

• Increase in rainfall

• Decrease in temperature

• Increase in humidity

What is the Coriolis effect?

• The apparent deflection of moving air due to Earth's rotation

• The warming of ocean currents as they move towards the equator

• The cooling of air as it rises in the atmosphere

• The increase in salinity of ocean water due to evaporation

In which direction do winds and ocean currents curve in the southern hemisphere? Explain.

What effect would the cold water current down the eastern side of the South American continent have?

How do differences in salinity cause ocean currents?