Ocean Currents Fact Cards

What form does water movement take on the surface of the ocean?

• Waves

• Currents

• Tides

• Ripples

Below the surface, the water in the ocean moves in great ________.

• currents

• waves

• tides

• ripples

How many types of currents are there in the ocean?

• Two types: Surface currents and Deep-water currents

• Three types: Surface currents, Deep-water currents, and Tidal currents

• Four types: Surface currents, Deep-water currents, Tidal currents, and Upwelling currents

• Five types: Surface currents, Deep-water currents, Tidal currents, Upwelling currents, and Counter currents

What are ocean currents?

• Movements of seawater generated by forces such as wind, temperature differences, and salinity variations

• A type of marine plant found in the ocean

• The natural habitat of dolphins

• A type of oceanic rock formation

What are currents that move on or near the surface of the ocean called?

• Deep current

• Surface current

• Tidal current

Name the three factors that control the surface currents.

• A) Air currents, Earth's rotation, location of continents

• B) Temperature, salinity, wind

• C) Moon's gravity, Earth's tilt, ocean depth.

Fill in the blank: _______ wind belts are a major factor affecting the flow of ocean surface water.

• Global

• Local

• Polar

• Equatorial

What causes deep currents in the ocean?

• A) Difference in water density due to temperature gradient

• B) Wind patterns

• C) Earth's rotation

What happens to cold water due to its density?

• It rises up

• It sinks and moves

• It stays still

• It evaporates.

Surface currents travel much _______ than deep ocean currents.

• faster

• slower

• at the same speed

• in reverse