Ocean Currents

What is the North Pacific Garbage Patch?

• A recycling facility for ocean waste

• A series of trash vortices in the Pacific Ocean

• A large island made of grocery bags and drinking straws

• A landfill located in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

Approximately how large is the North Pacific Garbage Patch?

• The size of New York City

• As big as the United States

• Twice the size of California

• About the size of Texas

What primarily makes up the North Pacific Garbage Patch?

• Chemical waste from industries

• A soup of tiny microplastics

• Large pieces of plastic waste

• Natural debris like wood pulp

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

How many giant collections of trash are circulating in oceans globally?

• Three

• Five

• Seven

• Ten

What causes trash to move from inland to the ocean?

• Global warming

• Human activities

• Wind patterns

• Ocean currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

What drives the horizontal movement of water in the oceans?

• Ocean currents

• Wind

• Density and pressure differences

• Tidal forces

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What effect does the Coriolis effect have on ocean currents?

• It deflects the path of currents

• It makes currents flow in a straight line

• It stops the currents completely

• It increases the speed of currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

In which direction do gyres flow in the Northern Hemisphere?

• Directly north

• Directly south

• Clockwise

• Counterclockwise

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What is the role of deep currents in the ocean?

• They transport warm water to the poles

• They only move horizontally across the ocean floor

• They create the ocean's waves

• They are responsible for the movement of ships

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

How long can a complete circuit of a deep current take?

• Up to 100 years

• Up to 2000 years

• Up to 1000 years

• Up to 500 years