Ocean Currents and Climate Effects

Front

How does El Niño affect the southern United States?

Back

Wetter conditions

Front

High productivity and nutrient availability in the ocean occur in areas with

Back

upwelling

Front

Which of the following statements correctly describes an El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event?

Back

It causes wetter conditions in the southern United States

Front

Which of the following statements about gyres is correct?

Back

Gyres redistribute heat in the ocean

Front

Which of the following plays a role in causing a rain shadow?

Back

humid ocean air

Front

Identify a mechanism that drives the thermohaline circulation.

Back

Convection

Front

Which of the following best describes El Niño?

Back

A warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific, which disrupts normal weather patterns.

Front

During La Niña, what typically happens to the ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific?

Back

They become cooler than normal.

Front

What is upwelling, and why is it important for marine life?

Back

A process where deep, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, supporting large populations of fish and other marine organisms.

Front

Which ocean current is responsible for bringing warm water from the Gulf of Mexico up the eastern coast of the United States?

Back

The Gulf Stream.