Currents/El Nino/La Nina

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What is El Nino?

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El Nino is a climate pattern characterized by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather patterns.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What is La Nina?

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La Nina is a climate pattern that represents the cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often leading to opposite weather effects compared to El Nino.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What is the Global Conveyor Belt?

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The Global Conveyor Belt, also known as thermohaline circulation, is a large-scale ocean circulation driven by differences in temperature and salinity.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What causes surface ocean currents?

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Surface ocean currents are primarily caused by wind, which pushes the water across the ocean's surface.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What are ocean currents?

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Ocean currents are continuous flows of ocean water that move in specific directions, influenced by wind, water density, and the Earth's rotation.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What is the Gulf Current?

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The Gulf Current is a warm surface current that flows along the eastern coast of the United States and brings warm water to Europe.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What is the Coriolis Effect?

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The Coriolis Effect is the deflection of moving objects, such as air and water, caused by the rotation of the Earth, influencing the direction of currents.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What role does gravity play in ocean currents?

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Gravity helps to drive ocean currents by pulling water downwards and creating pressure differences that lead to movement.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

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What is thermohaline circulation?

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Thermohaline circulation is the global movement of ocean water driven by differences in temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline), affecting climate and weather.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What are the effects of El Nino on weather?

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El Nino can lead to increased rainfall in some regions, droughts in others, and can disrupt normal weather patterns globally.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6