Science Test Flascards:currents

Front 1

2 examples of surface currents

Back 1

Gulf Stream and California

Front 2

what is a surface current

Back 2

a horizontal streamlike movement of ocean water that is caused by wind and that occurs at or near the ocean's surface

Front 3

cold water and warm water

Back 3

cold water sinks and warm water rises

Front 4

where do global winds go when they are across the equator

Back 4

global winds across the equator go to the east

Front 5

explain how water freezes

Back 5

the tiny particles within the water are squeezed out an the frozen ice will float to the surface.

Front 6

el nino-

Back 6

a changes in the surface water temperature in the pacific Ocean that produces a warm current

Front 7

la nina-

Back 7

a changes in the eastern pacific Ocean in which the surface water temperature becomes unusually cool

Front 8

3 factors that control surface currents

Back 8

global winds
the coriolis effect
continental deflections

Front 9

deep water currrents are controlled by what

Back 9

upwelling

Front 10

How is a current like a river?

Back 10

they both have streamlike movements.

Front 11

information on the gulf stream current

Back 11

the gulf stream current carries warm water from the Tropics to the North Atlantic Ocean
the gulf stream flows to the British isles and creates a relatively mild climate for land at such a high latitude
the gulf stream is the same current that makes the climate of the Scilly Isles very different from the climate of Newfoundland

Front 12

California current

Back 12

cold water from the Northern Pacific Ocean is carried south to Mexico by the California current
the cold water current keeps temperatures along the west coast cooler than the inland climate all year long.
cold water currents, such as the California current, can affect the climate of coastal regions

Front 13

all three factors of surface currents

Back 13

all three factors- global winds, the coriolis effect, and continental deflections-work togetherto form a pattern of surface currents on earth. But currents are also affected by the temperature of the water in which they form.

Front 14

warm currents

Back 14

begin near the equator and carry warm water to other parts of the ocean

Front 15

cold water currents

Back 15

begin closer to the poles and carry cool water to other parts of the ocean

Front 16

coriolis effect

Back 16

coriolis effect-the apparent curving of moving objects from a straight path due to Earth's rotation
the earths rotation causes wind and surface currents to move in curved paths rather than in straight lines.
when surface currents meet continents, the currents deflect, or change direction.