Ocean Currents and Global Circulation Quiz
15 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Why can't these types of pollution be linked to a particular ship?

  • Political boundaries (correct)
  • Pollution control technology
  • International agreements
  • Ship speed
  • What do the plastic beads and dragons on the beach represent?

  • Tourist souvenirs
  • Marine life
  • Global circulation of air and water (correct)
  • Local craftsmanship
  • What do global economies depend on in the context of shipping?

  • Circulation of nutrients
  • Local transportation
  • Circulation of goods moved by ships (correct)
  • Dependability of ocean currents
  • Which ocean current eventually forms the California Current?

    <p>North Pacific Current</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of deep ocean currents in marine life support?

    <p>Moving energy and creating conditions that support marine life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary influence on the movement of deep ocean currents?

    <p>Temperature and salinity changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What drives ocean currents according to the text?

    <p>Differences in density and pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What affects water density in the ocean according to the text?

    <p>Salinity and temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes irregular shapes and circular vortices in ocean currents according to the text?

    <p>The Coriolis effect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the North Pacific Garbage Patch primarily composed of?

    <p>Plastic, chemical sludge, and wood pulp</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is defining the size of the North Pacific Garbage Patch difficult?

    <p>It is mostly a soup of tiny microplastics, not an island of grocery bags and drinking straws</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated size of the North Pacific Garbage Patch?

    <p>Approximately 700,000 km2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated size of the North Pacific Garbage Patch?

    <p>700,000 km2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the composition of the North Pacific Garbage Patch mainly made of?

    <p>Plastic, chemical sludge, and wood pulp</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is plastic pollution distributed around the world's beaches?

    <p>It is found on every beach due to trash moving from inland to the ocean and getting caught in ocean currents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Ocean Currents and Their Role in Global Circulation

    • Ocean currents are like rivers of energy moving in a persistent and predictable direction, driven by differences in density and pressure.
    • Density and pressure changes in the ocean come from differences in the amount of incoming solar radiation, which heats the water.
    • Water closer to the equator absorbs more heat energy than water at higher latitudes, creating density differences within the ocean.
    • Water density is also affected by salinity, with saltier water being more dense than less salty water.
    • Warmer water in the ocean expands, elevating the surface, while colder or saltier water contracts, lowering the surface into a depression.
    • Pressure gradients force the water to flow around the globe, resulting in at least 30 major named surface currents and dozens more smaller currents.
    • Surface currents are driven by strong and steady streams of wind, with energy transferred from the winds to the water through friction.
    • Ocean currents generally follow the winds but come up against roadblocks like continents and large land masses, giving them irregular shapes.
    • The Coriolis effect, caused by the Earth's rotation, can deflect some surface currents, leading to irregular shapes and circular vortices or eddies.
    • Equatorial currents aren't deflected right or left and flow horizontally, while gyres flow in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and a counterclockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
    • Ocean currents can carry various objects, such as eels or plastic waste, and play a crucial role in global circulation.
    • The North Pacific Gyre, consisting of four currents following the movement of air around the northern subtropical high-pressure area, plays a significant role in the journey of objects like water bottles.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Test your knowledge of ocean currents and their role in global circulation with this quiz. Explore the factors driving ocean currents, including density, pressure, and the impact of solar radiation. Learn about the influence of winds, the Coriolis effect, and the formation of gyres. Understand the significance of ocean currents in global circulation and their role in transporting various objects across the seas.

    More Like This

    Ocean Currents and Global Winds Quiz
    16 questions
    Ocean Currents and Global Winds Flashcards
    24 questions
    Ocean Currents and Global Winds
    16 questions
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Browser