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Ocean Currents

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The movement of deep, cold, nutrient filled water to the surface of the ocean after the winds move the warmer water away is called _______.

a)

Ocean Current

b)

Upwelling

c)

Deep Currents

d)

Surface Currents

2.
Two types of ocean currents are
a)
local and global
b)
sea and land
c)
surface and deep
d)
warm and cold
3.

Surface currents are mainly formed by and driven by the ______.

a)
The Coriolis Effect
b)
Cold and Warm Water
c)
Convection
d)

Winds

4.

Regular movements of ocean water formed by density and are far below the surface, are called

_________.

a)
Warm Currents
b)
Deep Currents
c)
Shallow Currents
d)
Surface Currents
5.

Ocean water is more dense than fresh water at the same temperature due to differences in _________.

a)
Wind patterns
b)
 Lifeforms
c)
Currents
d)
Salinity
6.

Deep Ocean currents are primarily caused by ________.

a)

temperature and salinity

b)

wind

c)

gravity

d)

precipitation

7.

The warm, strong current off the coast of Florida is the ____________.

a)

Gulf Stream

Current

b)
California Current
c)
North Equatorial Current
d)
Brazil Current
8.

When surface currents meet continents they ___?

a)

Stop moving

b)

Are deflected (change paths)

c)

Continue in the direction they were going

9.

Salt water is ____________ fresh water.

a)

more dense than

b)

less dense than

c)

the same density as

10.
Analyze the image. What could explain why certain parts of the ocean have warmer temperatures?
a)
the uneven heating of the Earth's surface
b)
the rising of cold air and the sinking of warm air
c)
hurricanes
11.
Analyze the image. The red arrows represent warm water rising and the blue arrows represent cold water sinking. What type of heat transfer is responsible for this movement?
a)
conduction
b)
convection
c)
radiation
12.
Analyze the map.
Why is it warmer in Charleston than it is in San Diego even though they are the same distance from the Equator?
a)
San Diego is affected by the Gulf Stream
b)
Charleston is affected by the California current
c)
Charleston is affected by the Gulf Stream
13.
Analyze the map.
Why is it colder in San Diego than it is in Charleston even though they are the same distance from the Equator?
a)
San Diego is affected by the Gulf Stream
b)
Charleston is affected by the California current
c)
San Diego is affected by the California Current
14.
The Earth's greatest source of energy comes from the _________.
a)
precipitation
b)
rotation of its axis
c)
Sun
d)
oceans currents
15.
The warm, strong current off the coast of Florida is the 
a)
Gulf Stream
b)
California Current
c)
North Equatorial Current
d)
Brazil Current
16.
Does the gulf stream carry warm or cold water?
a)
warm water
b)
cold water
17.

What impact does plastic waste in the oceans have on marine life?

a)

Animals have a good instinct to avoid plastic waste.

b)

Animals will not eat the plastic waste.

c)

Plastics in the ocean have no impact on the marine life.

d)

Animals can get sick after mistaking them for food, or accidently get caught in the plastic.

18.

How does plastic trash get into the ocean to create the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Choose 3 possible answers.

a)

Plastic left on the ground as litter often blows into rivers, eventually ends up in the ocean.

b)

Rain and floods carry plastic from the land into the oceans.

c)

Animals carry plastic to the ocean.

d)

Shipwrecks, fishing boats, and careless people at the beach or boating.

19.

Organisms such as ____, ____, and ____ rely on ocean currents for transportation.

a)

Sea turtles, coconut trees, and plankton

b)

Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon

c)

thermal and kinetic energy

d)

fish, kelp, sea otters

20.

Ocean currents transport matter and energy. Besides water, ocean currents also carry important matter such as ____, ____and _____ necesary for the survival of marine organisms.

a)

fresh water, ice and warm water

b)

coconuts, plankton and sand dollars

c)

nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen