The Impact of Sunlight on Ocean Currents and Atmospheric Pressure

The video explains the concept of currents, both in water and air, and their causes. It discusses how the Sun's uneven heating of Earth affects air pressure, leading to wind patterns influenced by the Coriolis effect. These winds drive ocean surface currents, forming gyres that move water and heat globally. The video also covers deep ocean currents, affected by temperature and salinity, contributing to the global ocean conveyor belt, which plays a crucial role in distributing heat around the planet.

What is the term used to describe the flow of water or air within a larger body?

• Ripple

• Tide

• Current

• Wave

How does the Sun's uneven heating of Earth affect air pressure?

• It results in high pressure at the poles and low pressure at the equator.

• It has no effect on air pressure.

• It creates high pressure at the equator and low pressure at the poles.

• It causes uniform air pressure globally.

What is the Coriolis effect responsible for?

• Straight-line wind patterns

• Decreased air pressure at the equator

• Curved wind and ocean current patterns

• Increased solar energy at the poles

What is the primary driver of wind-driven surface currents?

• Volcanic activity

• Earthquakes

• Prevailing winds

• Ocean tides

What are ocean gyres primarily responsible for?

• Moving water and heat around the globe

• Decreasing ocean temperature

• Creating tides

• Increasing ocean salinity

What causes water to sink in the ocean's deeper currents?

• Low temperature and low salinity

• High temperature and low salinity

• Low temperature and high salinity

• High temperature and high salinity

What happens to the salt when sea ice forms?

• It decreases the water's salinity.

• It remains in the water, increasing salinity.

• It evaporates into the atmosphere.

• It becomes part of the ice.

What is another name for the overturning circulation in the ocean?

• Global ocean conveyor belt

• Thermal expansion

• Ocean gyre

• Tidal wave

How do ocean currents contribute to global heat distribution?

• They move heat from the equator to the poles and vice versa.

• They have no effect on heat distribution.

• They trap heat in the equator region.

• They prevent heat from reaching the poles.

What is the main effect of the global ocean conveyor belt?

• It creates ocean waves.

• It stabilizes Earth's rotation.

• It distributes heat energy globally.

• It increases ocean salinity.