Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate Vocabulary

Curving or bending of wind and surface ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation

• Gulf Stream

• Coriolis Effect

• gyre

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Mass movement or flow of ocean water that redistributes heat throughout the globe.

• Coriolis Effect

• Gulf Stream

• ocean currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Large system of circulating ocean currents caused by the Coriolis Effect

• gyre

• Gulf Stream

• latitude

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Large current that starts in the Gulf of Mexico and passes near the Northeast coast of the US carrying warm air.

• gyre

• Coriolis Effect

• Gulf Stream

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

When surface ocean currents meet continents they deflect or change direction.

• continental deflection

• ocean convection

• surface current

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Movement of water due to changes in density.

• gyre

• continental deflection

• ocean convection

Stream-like horizontal movement powered by wind.

• deep currents

• gyre

• surface currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Movement far below the surface powered by changes in density, temperature, and salinity.

• deep currents

• surface currents

• gyre

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The direction the wind usually blows at a particular location.

• wind

• gyre

• prevailing winds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The large-scale movement of air which distributes heat across the surface of Earth.

• atmospheric circulation

• continental deflection

• ocean convection

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6