Ocean currents
Part 1:
1. Describe four factors that influence ocean currents.
There are many factors that influence ocean currents, four of the factors would be planet rotation, wind, density of water, and gravitation. Planet rotation causes the currents to move clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Wind blows on the surface of the ocean therefore pushing the water in the direction of the wind. Different densities in the water can cause currents to form and move. Gravitation pulls the water “downhill.”
2. Explain how the Coriolis Effect impacts ocean currents.
The Coriolis effect controls the wind. Then the wind affects the ocean currents.
3. What is the relationship between ocean currents and climate?
The ocean is a major component of the climate system, it covers about 71% of the enitre earth, and it absorbs almost twice as much of the sun's radiation than the atmosphere or the land does. It controls a lot of the weather and how it reacts.
4. What is upwelling and why is it important to the marine ecosystem?
Upwelling is when the cold water from the deepest part of the ocean rises to the surface. When the cold water comes to the surface it brings massive amounts of nutrients that have been accumulating over the year at the bottom of the ocean.
5. Explain the relationship density has on wind currents and ocean currents.
When the temperature of the wind and the ocean gets higher, the density decreases, just like when the temperature of the wind and ocean gets lower, the density increases. Movement of the currents is driven by density. The movement occurs in the space between water molecules when it increases due the temperatures.
6. Which factor in creating currents has the greatest influence on weather patterns?
The wind and earth’s rotation has the greatest influence on weather patterns due to the increase of movement in the currents and the change of temperatures as the seasons change.
Part 2: Location:
1. Describe four factors that influence ocean currents.
There are many factors that influence ocean currents, four of the factors would be planet rotation, wind, density of water, and gravitation. Planet rotation causes the currents to move clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Wind blows on the surface of the ocean therefore pushing the water in the direction of the wind. Different densities in the water can cause currents to form and move. Gravitation pulls the water “downhill.”
2. Explain how the Coriolis Effect impacts ocean currents.
The Coriolis effect controls the wind. Then the wind affects the ocean currents.
3. What is the relationship between ocean currents and climate?
The ocean is a major component of the climate system, it covers about 71% of the enitre earth, and it absorbs almost twice as much of the sun's radiation than the atmosphere or the land does. It controls a lot of the weather and how it reacts.
4. What is upwelling and why is it important to the marine ecosystem?
Upwelling is when the cold water from the deepest part of the ocean rises to the surface. When the cold water comes to the surface it brings massive amounts of nutrients that have been accumulating over the year at the bottom of the ocean.
5. Explain the relationship density has on wind currents and ocean currents.
When the temperature of the wind and the ocean gets higher, the density decreases, just like when the temperature of the wind and ocean gets lower, the density increases. Movement of the currents is driven by density. The movement occurs in the space between water molecules when it increases due the temperatures.
6. Which factor in creating currents has the greatest influence on weather patterns?
The wind and earth’s rotation has the greatest influence on weather patterns due to the increase of movement in the currents and the change of temperatures as the seasons change.
Part 2: Location: