Currents and Climate

The sun

Primary energy source that drives earth's air and ocean currents

Climate

The average long-term weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. Usually determined by temperature and precipitation.

Sinking of cold, dense water with high salinity

What causes deep currents to form in the oceans near the poles?

salinity

A measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid

ocean current

large stream of water that flows through the oceans

right

In the Northern Hemisphere currents curve to the ...................

left

In the Southern Hemisphere, currents curve to the ............

El Nino

______ ___________ can cause changes in climate and prevent upwelling in certain areas

Warm surface currents

These currents generally travel from the equator to the poles.

Cold surface currents

These currents generally travel from the poles to the equator.

upwelling

The movement of deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water to the surface

air pressure

Winds are caused by differences in ..........

Land heats up faster than water

Sea breazes occur because.......

blow in specific directions over long distances

Global winds generally..........

Wind

The horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure

vertically

The doldrums and horse latitudes have little to no wind because the air in those areas is moving ______________________ instead of horizontally.

Coriolis effect

Causes air and water currents to turn left in the southern hemisphere and turn right in the northern hemisphere.

Prevailing Westerlies

winds that blow west to east between 30 and 60 degrees in the northern and southern hemispheres

horse latitudes

are regions of high pressue and gentle winds at about 30 degrees north and south latitude

Local wind

winds that blow over short distances

Land breeze

movement of air from land to sea at night, created when cooler, denser air from the land forces up warmer air over the sea

trade winds

Winds that blow to the west between 30 degrees North and South Latitudes.

leeward side of a mountain

dry, desert-like

Windward side of a mountain

Usually cool and humid

Altitude

Cities at high_______________ will have colder climates

warmer; wetter

Warm ocean currents will make the climate of an area ____________ and _________________ than would normally be expected.

cooler; drier

Cold ocean currents will make the climate of an area ____________ and _________________ than would normally be expected.

Large bodies of water, cloud cover, vegetation and mountains

Local winds can be caused by........

They carry thermal energy, oxygen, and nutrients aroung the globe.

Earths ocean currents are important because ........

Latitude

Distance north or south of the equator. Cities further from the equator will have colder temperatures because they recieve less direct sunlight

altitude

Temperature decreases as______________________ and latitude increases.

global winds

____________________ _____________ determine the direction of weather patterns on earth. Used to determine windward and leeward side of a mountain.

Large bodies of water

Moderate temperatures of coastal areas because water does not change temperature as quickly as land.