Ocean Currents: Dynamics and Impact
Explore the forces driving ocean currents, their types, and their significant impact on global climate and marine ecosystems for Grade 12 Earth & Space Science.
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Ocean Currents: Dynamics and Impact
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Read each question carefully and provide your best answer. Some questions may require critical thinking and application of concepts related to ocean currents.
1. Which of the following is the primary driving force for surface ocean currents?
Salinity differences
Tides
Prevailing winds
Earth's magnetic field
2. The Coriolis effect causes ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere to deflect to the:
Right
Left
North
South
3. The global conveyor belt, also known as the circulation, plays a crucial role in redistributing heat around the globe.
4. Upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to the surface, supporting high levels of productivity.
5. Deep ocean currents are primarily driven by wind.
True
False
6. El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
True
False
7. Explain the difference between surface currents and deep ocean currents, including the primary forces that drive each.
8. Observe the diagram of ocean zones below. How do different ocean currents interact with these zones?
