Ocean Currents and Coastal Temperatures Name ______
Warm and cold water currents can affect the climate of coastal regions. Use the map of the United States to locate San Francisco, CA and Norfolk, VA. These 2 cities are on the same latitude (same distance from the equator,) but they have different temperatures.
Use the provided data to make a line graph of the average high temperatures for each city on the graph below. Be sure to include a graph title and label each axis.
Average High Temperatures (◦ F)
May / June / July / August / SeptemberSan Francisco, CA / 65 / 68 / 68 / 69 / 71
Norfolk, VA / 75 / 83 / 87 / 85 / 79
Analysis Questions:
1. Which city has the higher temperatures? Is this what you expected to see?
2. Look at the current map in your composition book. Which ocean current is closest to San Francisco? Is it a warm or cold current? How does this appear to affect temperatures?
3. Which ocean current is closest to Norfolk? Is it a warm or cold current? How does this appear to affect temperatures?
4. An upwelling is a mass of water from deep in the ocean that comes to the surface because the wind blows the surface water away. Upwellings are important because they bring nutrients to the ocean surface and create areas rich in fish and other marine resources.
- What temperature would you expect the water from an upwelling to be? Why?
- Would you expect the area near an upwelling to be cooled or warmed by the waters of the upwelling?