ESS 2.1

The image above shows part of an ocean current in the Pacific Ocean. The blue line represents the motion of deep, cool water. The red line represents the motion of warm surface water. What most likely causes the current to behave as shown in the image?

• When the deep water is cooled, it loses energy and becomes denser.

• When the surface water is heated by the Sun, it becomes denser.

• When the cold water evaporates, less dense water rises to take its place.

• When the water is heated, it becomes less dense and rises

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The ocean's currents are driven by differences in temperature and density. Different masses of water are warmer and less dense than other masses. This water tends to move along the ocean's surface in surface currents. Colder masses and more dense masses of water tend to sink and move along the ocean floor in deep-water currents. As shown in the diagram above, at several locations warm, less dense water cools, becomes more dense and falls to the ocean floor. At other locations, cold, dense water warms, becomes less dense and rises back to the surface.

This cycling of ocean water along currents is an example of _______.

• absorption

• convection

• conduction

• radiation

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A student puts water in a long glass tank to make a model of ocean currents. He heats the left side of the tank and cools the right side. This heating and cooling produces a current of water in the tank. Which diagram correctly shows the flow of the water?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

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The following image shows the Earth's jet streams. In this picture, most of the United States lies in the yellow zone between the polar jet and the subtropical jet streams. The United States is marked with an X. Based on the directions in which air moves in the jet streams, how would you expect weather patterns in the United States to move?

• from east to west

• from south to north

• from west to east

• from north to south

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A student wants to model the Coriolis effect. She spins a globe and then uses a marker to draw a line on it while it spins. She begins drawing near the North Pole and moves her hand directly toward the Equator.

Which diagram best represents the line drawn on the globe?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following factors drives all the weather on Earth, including large-scale storms and local weather systems?

• The greenhouse effect ensures that some thermal energy will always be trapped near the Earth's surface.

• The Sun heats up the air at different rates, and the atmosphere undergoes changes to equalize temperatures and pressures.

• The Coriolis effect curves the motion of wind due to the Earth's rotation.

• The ocean holds thermal energy more efficiently than land.

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In general, air masses along the southern U.S. tend to be made up of high-pressure air. Air closer to the North Pole tends to be low pressure air. Why does the high pressure air from the south not blow straight to the north?

• Because the Earth's rotation twists the wind's path to the east.

• Because the Earth's rotation twists the wind's path to the west.

• Because the Earth's surface is heated evenly, canceling out any pressure differences

• Because winds blow from areas of low pressure to areas of high pressure.

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Cold water near the ocean floor often flows in deep-water currents. The cold water flows toward the deepest regions of the ocean because

• it is more dense than the warm water above it.

• the water above it is frozen in icebergs.

• the water above it contains less algae

• it is warmer than the cold water above it.

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Water is cooler near the poles and warmer near the equator. Movement of cooler and warmer water from these regions moderates the global climate. Which of the following describes the movement of water between the poles and the equator?

• evaporation

• gravity

• ocean currents

• tides

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The currents of the Earth's oceans are caused by

• global winds and differences in temperature and salinity.

• waves and earthquakes along tectonic plate boundaries.

• disturbances by submarines and large ships.

• marine organisms and volcanic eruptions.

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