Chapter 21 Section 1 Review Page 524 Ocean Surface Currents

1. Describe the force that drives most surface currents. Uneven heating of Earth’s atmosphere produces wind. As winds moves across the ocean they transfer energy to the water creating surface currents.

2. Identify the winds that affect the surface currents on either side of the equator. The trade wind belts, located north and south of the equator push surface currents west across all three oceans in the tropical latitudes.

3. Identify the winds that affect the surface currents in the middle latitudes. Prevailing Westerlies are located in the mid-latitudes and they push ocean currents to the east.

4. Describe how density affects the flow of deep currents. Denser water is “heavier” and sinks below less dense water. This ocean motion is the basis for deep-ocean currents.

5. List the factors that affect the density of ocean water. Temperature Salinity Turbidity

6. Describe how surface currents would be affected if Earth did not rotate. Earth’s rotation causes the path surface currents to curve. If Earth did not rotate, surface currents would flow in straight paths until the ran into land.

7. Explain how the distribution of solar energy around Earth affects ocean surface currents. Sunlight that shines on Earth adds thermal (heat) energy to air. Differences in the amount of solar radiation leads to uneven heating of Earth’s surface. This uneven heating pattern creates winds, which drive surface currents.

The End!!!!