Marine Thermostats: Ocean Currents Quiz

If wind blows consistently over the ocean surface, then friction transfers energy to the water. If energy is transferred, then the surface water begins to move in the same general direction as the wind.

If a current carries warm water from the tropics, then it releases heat into the atmosphere above it. If the air is warmed and comes into contact with water, then it absorbs more moisture, leading to a warmer, more humid coastal climate.

If a current is cold, then the air above it stays cool. If the air is cool, then it cannot hold much water vapor and resists rising (no convection), which results in very little precipitation on the coast.

If the Gulf Stream brings warm water across the Atlantic, then it warms the prevailing winds. If these warm winds reach Europe, then the region experiences milder winters than other locations at that same high latitude.

If wind pushes surface water away from a coastline, then deeper water must rise to replace it. If this deep water reaches the surface, then the process is defined as upwelling.

If the Earth rotates on its axis, then objects moving over its surface appear to deflect. If this happens in the Northern Hemisphere, then the deflection is consistently to the right of the direction of motion.

If water has a higher specific heat capacity than land, then it absorbs heat more slowly. If the ocean stays cooler than the land in summer, then the breeze coming off the water keeps the coastal city cooler.

If water becomes saltier or colder, then it becomes more dense. If water becomes denser than the surrounding water, then it sinks toward the bottom, creating a vertical flow that drives deep currents.

If the California Current flows from the North Pacific southward toward the equator, then it is carrying cold water. If it carries cold water, then it creates a cooling effect on the California coast, not a warming one.

If sea water freezes, then only the water molecules form ice crystals, leaving the salt behind. If the salt is left behind in the remaining liquid water, then the concentration of salt (salinity) increases.

If global winds push water and the Coriolis effect causes that water to curve, then the water eventually travels in a large circular loop. If a large-scale circular current system forms, then it is called a gyre.

If a current originates in the tropical Atlantic and flows along the U.S. East Coast toward Europe, then it is known as the Gulf Stream.

If warm, moist air moves over a cold ocean current, then the air is cooled from below. If the air reaches its dew point near the surface, then the water vapor condenses into tiny droplets, forming fog.

If land heats up and cools down much faster than water, then land has a lower specific heat. If water resists temperature changes more effectively, then water must have a higher specific heat.

If deep currents move heat from the equator to the poles, then they regulate global temperatures. If those currents slow down, then heat is not moved efficiently, leading to significant changes in regional climates.

If the Sun heats the Earth's surface unevenly, then temperature and pressure differences are created. If these differences exist, then they generate the winds and currents that move heat around the planet.

If an object moves across a rotating sphere, its path appears curved to an observer on the sphere. If this occurs on Earth, then the phenomenon is specifically named the Coriolis Effect.

If a current brings warm water to a cold region, then it transfers heat to the surface. If the water stays above the freezing point, then ice cannot form, keeping the harbor open for ships.

If wind is the primary driver of surface currents, then its influence is limited to the layer in contact with the atmosphere. If friction decreases with depth, then only about the top 400 meters (10%) of the ocean is moved by surface winds.

If surface currents and deep density-driven currents are interconnected, then they form a continuous global loop. If this loop moves water and heat around the entire world, then it is modeled as a "Global Conveyor Belt."