Earth Science Self-Check 6.2

What were some of the environmental effects of El Niño of 1983?

-drought -flooding -the death of coral reefs -dust storms

Which factor affects the paths of surface currents in the earth's oceans?

-wind -continental coastlines -the rotation of the earth

Match the term with its description. 1. Currents 2. Gyres 3. Coriolis effect 4. El Niño a. circular current patterns that circumscribe an entire ocean basin b. the deflection of currents, winds, and so forth because of the rotation of the earth c. rivers of seawater that circulate along the surface of the ocean d. a warm ocean current that forms off the coast of South America and alters weather and climate

1-c 2-a 3-b 4-d

Match the current with its location 1. Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent 2. Antarctic circumpolar 3. Gulf Stream 4. Kuroshio current a. surrounding Antarctica b. flows past Florida and across the Atlantic c. flows past Japan and across the Pacific d. along the equator just west of South America

1-d 2-a 3-b 4-c

How are currents an important part of the earth's heating and air conditioning system?

Currents carry warm and cool waters over the earth to help moderate the climate.

What impact does the Gulf Stream have on the climate of Europe?

It makes the climate warmer that it otherwise would be.

Four students (A, B, C, and D) were asked to write a short answer about the question, "What is the energy that powers the earth's surface currents?". Which student is most correct?

Since the sun is the power behind the wind , and winds drive currents, the sun is the original source of much of the power that moves the surface currents.

What direction do gyres in the Northern Hemisphere circulate?

clockwise

What direction do gyres in the Southern Hemisphere circulate?

counterclockwise

A student wrote the following answer to this question: Question: How do the currents around Antarctica help keep it ice-covered? Answer: The currents around Antarctica help moderate the climate. Thus, the continent of Antarctica will have the most moderate climate of any of the continents, because it is totally surrounded by the Antarctic circumpolar current. Is he correct?

no

A student wrote the following answer to this question: Question: Greenland is covered in ice. Nearby Iceland is not. What roles do the currents around these two islands play in explaining this? Answer: Greenland is surrounded by cold currents. Thus, the climate is colder than normal and the ice cap is a result of the colder climate. But Iceland is surrounded by warm currents, so it is not ice-covered. Is she right?

yes

A student wrote the following answer to this question: Question: Sargassum is the seaweed that drifts with the currents. This region has large mats of this floating seaweed. Also, sailing ships avoided sailing in the Sargasso Sea. Why? Answer: In the middle of the gyre there are few currents. Sailing ships depended on currents to help them make it across the sea. Without currents there was a danger of the ship sitting for days and not moving forward. They would then face running out of water or food or both. Because there are few if any currents the mats of sea weed just sits there too. Is she correct?(Note: The Sargasso Sea is centered in the middle of the North Atlantic gyre at sixty degrees west longitude and thirty degrees north latitude. Notice the current patterns in this region.)

yes