7.1 Ocean Currents

7.1 Ocean Currents

1)  A current is ______

2)  Currents are caused by:

a.  ______c. ______

b.  ______

3)  On the picture to the left, label Charlotte, Africa, and Europe, then draw the arrows to show the currents that travel in the Atlantic

4)  Differences in temperature means ______water moves towards areas with ______water (a convection current).

5)  Because water is warmer around the ______, the warm water moves towards the ______regions.

6)  Ocean water has formed ______according to ______

7)  Low-density water occurs ______the surface

8)  Higher-density water occurs ______

9)  What are thermohaline currents? What do they do? ______

______.

10)  ______= movements of water that flow ______in the upper part of the ocean’s surface.

a.  Develop from ______between the ocean and the wind that blows across its surface – global ______!

11)  An increase in seawater density can be caused by a ______

12)  Can also result from increased salinity of ocean water due to ______

a.  The warmest layer of the ocean is the ______where water is mixed by waves and currents.

b.  The ______is the zone below the surface where rapid ______

c.  The______is the ______with temperatures of around 5 degrees Celsius.

13)  The ______is known as a long-distance surface current that carries ______from the southern tip of Florida along the eastern coast of the US.

14)  Currents in the Northern Hemisphere move ______(currents correspond to the wind circulation in each hemisphere), while currents in the Southern Hemisphere move ______. This is because of the Coriolis Effect.

15)  The Coriolis Effect (the apparent shift in fluids or objects due to the ______of the Earth) explains ocean current patterns curving in each hemisphere.

16)  Why do density currents form in Polar Regions?

17)  What two places do density currents form?

18)  What is the deep ocean/ density current cycle called?

19)  The movement of deep ocean currents to the surface is called ______. This occurs when deep ______are forced ______by the ocean floor bringing nutrient rich foodstuffs to the surface. This produces rich fishing grounds in areas where upwelling occurs. (Ex. Peru, Chile)

Pacific Trash Vortex Video Questions:

1) How big is the vortex?

2) It is the largest ______in the world.

3) How many vortexes make up the Pacific Trash Vortex?

4) Who is responsible for the trash vortex?

5) Why do we care about the trash vortex?

6) Overall, the Pacific trash vortex is one of how many trash vortexes around the world?

Rubber Ducks Lost at Sea Questions

1. Where did the shipping container fall into the ocean, and where are 3 places that the rubber ducks have

gone or come ashore?

2. Has the rubber ducks journey been a quick one or has their trip been really slow? How do you know?

3. After 20 years have all of the rubber ducks come ashore? Why or why not?

4. What problems have the rubber ducks helped everyone to see?

5. Looking at the map on the board, where else might the rubber ducks end up?