Lesson 9 & 10: Sea Surface Temperature and Ocean Currents Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated directly from the Lesson 9 review sheet on Sea Surface Temperature, ocean currents, energy transfer, and atmospheric winds.

sea surface temperature (SST)

The water temperature of the ocean surface layer, measured using instruments such as buoys and satellite radiometers.

JPSS

A satellite system that measures radiant energy to collect sea surface temperature (SST) data.

isolines

Lines drawn on a map that connect points of equal numerical value for a specific measurement.

isotherms

A specific type of isoline on a map connecting points of equal temperature.

isobars

A specific type of isoline on a map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.

buoy

An floating ocean instrument used to measure and record data such as sea surface temperatures directly from the water.

radiometer

A device onboard satellites like JPSS that collects SST measurements by measuring radiant energy emitted from the ocean surface.

current

A continuous flow or movement of a fluid, occurring either in gases as wind currents or in liquids as sea surface currents.

surface current

An ocean current formed in the upper ocean layer, driven primarily by prevailing winds, convection, and Earth's rotation.

prevailing winds

Dominant atmospheric winds that blow consistently in a given direction across Earth's surface, driving ocean surface currents.

trade winds

A specific category of prevailing winds blowing toward the equator that help drive equatorial surface currents.

prevailing westerlies

A category of prevailing winds that blow from the west to the east in the middle latitudes.

gyre

A large system of circulating ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and the Coriolis Effect.

Coriolis Effect

The deflection of moving air and ocean surface currents caused by the rotation of the Earth on its axis.

Gulf Stream

A major warm ocean surface current that plays a critical role in ocean heat distribution.

radiation

A method of heat transfer occurring via electromagnetic energy, such as the radiant energy measured by radiometers on satellites.

conduction

A method of heat transfer through direct physical contact between substances.

convection

A method of heat transfer in liquids and gases driven by temperature and density differences, contributing to wind and sea surface current formation.

heat capacity

The physical property describing the amount of heat energy required to change the temperature of a substance.

Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversion Formula

The mathematical equation used to convert temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit: $\text{℉} = 1.8\text{℃} + 32$.