Name: _____________________________________________________ Pd.

: ________ Date: ______________________

Ocean Currents
Section I Short Answer: Complete the following sentences using the word bank below. Word Bank equator Gulf Stream (twice) Humboldt

Antarctica California Current Circulating winds

climate counter clockwise currents

Large land masses North Atlantic Current West Wind Drift

1. The phrase rivers within an ocean refers to the oceans _______________________. 2. Two ocean currents that affect the coasts of North America are the ______________________________ and ________________________________. 3. The currents below the ______________________ flow in a ________________________________ direction. 4. The ___________________________ current, in the Southern Hemisphere, completely circles the cold continent of _______________________. 5. Currents affect the _____________________________ of neighboring land masses. 6. The _______________________________ is a cost South American coastal current. 7. The _______________________________ is a warm ocean current that affects Englands climate. 8. _______________________________ cause currents to change directions. 9. _______________________________ push surface water in different directions. 10. Currents in the _____________________________ are eastward flowing rivers. Section II Multiple Choice: Select the best answer to complete or answer the questions below.

11. Which type of current results from underwater landslides? a. rip current b. turbidity current c. longshore current d. tidal current

12. Which of the following best describes the water found in the deep currents of the Atlantic Ocean? a. cold with high salinity b. cold with low salinity c. warm with high salinity d. warm with low salinity

13. The currents in the northern Indian Ocean are governed by winds called: a. monsoons b. tsunamis c. trade winds d. tombolos

14. Deep Atlantic currents are formed largely as a result of the: a. erosion by surface winds. b. heating of surface water. c. rotation of the Earth. d. sinking of denser water.

15. The deflection of the Earths winds and ocean currents is caused by the Earths rotation called ____. a. Doldrums b. Coriolis Effect c. Gulf Stream d. Density current

Section III Completion: Complete the table below using the choices listed for each column to identify the characteristics of the currents listed below. The table can be completed using your notes, textbook or other resources available. Answer the questions below the table. Ocean Basin Answer choices Current Gulf Stream California Canary Peru Brazil Kurishio W. Australia E. Australia Beneguela Agulhas 16. What is the general relationship between a currents temperature and the side of the ocean on which that current flows? 17. In what direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, do the major circulation patterns rotate in the Northern Hemisphere? 18. In what direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, do the major circulation patterns rotate in the Southern Hemisphere? 19. Why does each hemisphere have a different pattern? 20. An ocean fog will occur when moist air blowing from a warm ocean current meets warm air over a cold ocean current. Which Australian coast (N, S, E, or W) is most likely to experience such fogs? Atlantic Pacific Indian Location of Basin East West General Temperature Warm Cold Flow direction relative to the Equator Toward Away from