Air and Water Currents

Due to the Earth's shape and orientation, areas near the equator receive the greatest amount of energy from the Sun. Ocean currents

• keep this energy concentrated in one region of the globe.

• move only away from the equator as a result.

• move only toward the equator as a result.

• help to distribute this energy by warming other regions of the globe.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The diagram shows the word's major ocean currents. Warm-water currents are shown in red, and cold-water currents are shown in blue.

Most warm-water ocean currents move away from the equator and toward the poles because warm water is driven by ______ from ______ regions to _______ regions.

• convection; hot; cold

• conduction; hot; cold

• conduction; cold; hot

• convection; cold; hot

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Currents caused by differences in water density are most often the result of

• differences in salinity and wind.

• uniform temperature and salinity.

• uniform salinity and wind.

• differences in temperature and salinity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Land heats up and cools relatively

• slowly

• quickly

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Movement of air from area of high pressure to area of lower pressure

• Jet stream

• Coriolis effect

• Wind

• Doldrum

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What causes the distinct pattern of wind called prevailing winds?

• Coriolis Effect

• Tornadoes

• Hurricanes

• Storm surges

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

In the US, which way do jet streams flow?

• East to West

• North to South

• West to East

• South to North

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Jet streams can move at speeds up to _____ km/h.

• 50

• 150

• 250

• 300

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Why are they called trade winds?

• Sailors didn't know what else to call them.

• Traders used the winds to travel from the North to South America

• Land settlers used them when traveling to the west.

• Traders used the winds to travel from Europe to the Americas.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which way do the prevailing westerlies flow?

• From west to east

• From east to west

• From north to south

• From south to north

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6