This is the measure of the amount of dissolved salts in ocean water.

What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by the global ocean?

What is the average salinity of ocean water?

________ is the mass of a substance per unit of volume.

These are stream-like movements of ocean water that follow a predictable pattern. They occur in the upper layers of ocean water and are caused and controlled primarily by global wind patterns.

These movements of ocean water occur when several major surface currents combine to create giant "loops." There are two of these in the Northern Hemisphere and three in the Southern Hemisphere.

________ water is more dense and will sink beneath _______ water.

_______ water is more dense and will sink beneath ________ water.

Most places on Earth experience ____ high tides and ____ low tides every day.

_________ are areas where cool, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface near some coastlines and the equator. The nutrients support a wide variety of marine organisms in these areas.

These are the daily rise and fall of sea level at a given location. They are primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the moon on large bodies of water.

Surface currents move heat and moisture throughout the Earth system. They can be warm or cold.

Warm surface currents usually begin near the _____.

Cold surface currents usually begin near the ______.

These ocean water movements are caused by differences in the density of ocean water.

Cold, salty water near the poles sinks and moves along the bottom of the ocean away from the poles and back towards the equator.

These ocean movements are caused when energy from wind is transferred to water molecules. The longer, stronger, and further the wind blows across the water, the bigger the _____ will be. They will eventually "break" when they grow too tall or encounter shallow water or a coastline.

Which of the following does not cause or control surface currents?

The global movement of ocean water in a cycle of surface and deep currents that is driven by differences density related to salinity and temperature. It can take hundreds of years to complete one cycle.

"Oceans play an important role in shaping the conditions that make Earth the only planet known to support life."

Which of the following are reasons that support this statement?

(Choose three)

This warm surface current affects the east coast of the United Sates and brings warmer water to northern Europe.

This cold surface current affects the west coast of the United Sates. It brings colder water from near Alaska and is part of the reason why our ocean water is so chilly!

Within which layer of the atmosphere do almost all clouds, water vapor, and weather occur?

Within which layer of the atmosphere do auroras occur? This layer is also where the International Space Station orbits. Temperature gets warmer as you go higher up into this layer.

Which layer of the atmosphere is the closest to space?

It is where the Earth's gravity can no longer hold onto gas molecules and the atmosphere gradually fades into space.

Which layer of the atmosphere is the "middle" layer, between the Stratosphere and Thermosphere?

It is very cold in this layer and this is often where meteors begin to burn up as they pass through the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is divided into 5 different layers based upon differences in ____________ as altitude increases.

This gas forms a layer in the Stratosphere that absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation the Earth receives from the sun. It is like "sunscreen" for the Earth!

Which two gases make up 99% of the gas in the atmosphere?

_________ at 78 %

_________ at 21 %

This is the amount of "water vapor" in the air.

There is more near the equator and closer to bodies of water. There is less near the poles and places farther away from water.

The atmosphere is mostly made up of a mixture of gases called air. Some of these are necessary for life.

_________ is released into the atmosphere by plants during photosynthesis,

_________ is released into the atmosphere by humans and animals during respiration.

Bits and pieces of solid matter are also found within the atmosphere. These __________ include ash, dust, pollen, salt crystals, and some types of man-made pollution.

These substances trap heat in the lower atmosphere. In normal amounts this helps keep temperatures on Earth comfortable. These substance include: water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and some types of man-made pollution.

This occurs when energy is taken in and stored by an object or material. (Dark-colored surface and materials, blacktop, soil, plants, and water all do this very well)

This occurs when energy bounces off of object or surface without being taken in. (Light-colored and shiny surfaces, snow, ice, glass, and water do this very well)

This occurs when energy is sent off into many different directions. (Rough and curved surfaces, water droplets, and particulates such as ash, dust, pollen, and salt crystals do this very well)

Not all solar radiation reaches the Earth's surface. Some is absorbed, reflected, and scattered by the Earth's atmosphere. Approximately, what percentage does make it to the Earth's surface?

Heat can be transferred between objects and materials.

When heat moves from one object to another by traveling as a wave, it is called ________________. (Ex: energy traveling from the Sun through space to the Earth)

Heat can be transferred between objects and materials.

When heat moves from a hotter object or material to a cooler object material through direct contact, it is called ________________. (Ex: your hand being burned by a hot pan)

Heat can be transferred between objects and materials.

When hot materials rise and cooler materials sink. (Ex: boiling water or a lava lamp)

Most (almost 50%) of the energy the Earth receives from the Sun is heat. Heat is also known as ________.

_______ heats up and cools down slowly, but it is very effective at storing heat.

_______ heats up and cools down quickly, and is not very effective at storing heat.

The __________ receives the most direct solar radiation year round.

This type of solar radiation is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer. It can cause sunburn and skin cancer, but thankfully only 7% of the total energy the Earth receives from the sun is ____________.

Snow and ice reflect a large percentage of the solar radiation that strikes them. This is part of the reason why the polar regions tend to be colder. White and light-colored surfaces and objects have a high ____________.

This is the large-scale movement of heat and moisture across the Earth's surface. It involves convection cells and global wind belts. This process is called atmospheric ___________.

These "local winds" bring summer thunderstorms and heavy rain to the American Desert Southwest.

These "local winds" bring cool air from over a large body of water onto the land near the coast. The cool air lowers temperatures as it replaces the rising air over the much warmer land.

These "local winds" bring hot, dry air from the Great Basin deserts up over the mountains of Southern California. These winds sweep through areas near Los Angeles and San Diego, often causing extreme wildfire conditions.

________ winds occur in belts that circle the entire Earth.

________ winds affect much smaller areas.

Warm, rising air in these areas creates clouds and stormy weather.  These areas occur near the equator and at 60N and S of the equator.  They are part of convection cells. 

Cool, sinking air in these areas creates dry, sunny skies.  These areas occur near the poles and at 30N and S of the equator.  They are part of convection cells. 

The movement of air from zones of high pressure to zones of low pressure creates _______. This movement of air helps move moisture and heat across the Earth's surface.

There are 6 major global wind belts that help move moisture and heat around the Earth. California and most of the United States are located within the __________ wind belt.