Atmosphere: Ocean Currents

Question 1

types of ocean currents (2)

Answer 1

• surface currents
• deep thermohaline currents

Question 2

warm currents transport…

Answer 2

warm water away from the equator

Question 3

cold currents transport…

Answer 3

cold water away from the poles

Question 4

surface currents directly respond to…

Answer 4

the prevailing global wind pattern

Question 5

coriolis force (ocean)

Answer 5

• deflects currents in the Northern hemisphere to the right and to the left in the Southern hemisphere

Question 6

the shape of landmasses can…

Answer 6

block and divert the movement of currents

Question 7

Gyre

Answer 7

circular shaped loop of ocean currents

Question 8

direction of northern hemisphere gyre

Answer 8

clockwise

Question 9

direction of southern hemisphere gyre

Answer 9

anticlockwise

Question 10

how are gyres formed?

Answer 10

• heating by the sun causes water to expand
• this causes a slight slope, which water flows down

Question 11

thermohaline currents cycle

Answer 11

• in cold regions (eg. North Atlantic), water turns to ice
• the surrounding water becomes saltier and denser, and moves towards lower latitudes
• the water is warmed and moves towards the poles

Question 12

currents in the North Atlantic (6)

Answer 12

• North Equatorial Current
• Gulf Stream
• North Atlantic Drift
• Labrador Current
• East Greenland current
• Canary current

Question 13

North Equatorial current

Answer 13

• warmed at the equator
• moves west
• warms the Gulf of Mexico

Question 14

Gulf Stream

Answer 14

travels east across the atlantic

Question 15

North Atlantic drift

Answer 15

brings warmer than average temperatures to Europe thanks to the Gulf stream

Question 16

Labrador & East Greenland currents

Answer 16

add cold water to North Atlantic Drift

Question 17

Canary current

Answer 17

takes cold water to the equator