Ocean Currents Worksheet
Explore the forces driving ocean currents, their types, and their impact on climate and marine life.
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Ocean Currents: Forces and Impacts
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Refer to your knowledge of oceanography and earth science.
1. What is the primary force that drives surface ocean currents?
Tides
Wind
Earth's rotation
Density differences
2. The Coriolis effect causes ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere to deflect to the .
Right
Left
East
West
3. Deep ocean currents are primarily driven by differences in water and salinity, a process known as circulation.
4. The large system of circulating ocean currents in an ocean basin is called a .
5. Explain how ocean currents influence global climate patterns.
6. Upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to the surface.
True
False
7. Observe the diagram below showing a cross-section of ocean zones. Which zone would you expect to have the most stable temperature and salinity?
