Name:______Date:______Pd:______

Standard S6E3 d. Explain the causes of currents, waves, and tide (Study Guide)

1.Is a large stream of moving water that flows through the ocean, carry water great distances, move water at the surface of the ocean, also move deep water / Current

2. Surface currents are caused by ……. / Mainly by Winds (Global)
3. Warm surface currents originate (start) near the ……. / Equator
4. Why do surface currents move in circular patterns? / Because of the rotation of the Earth on its axis- The effect of Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents is called the Coriolis Effect
Currents flow to the right (clockwise) in the Northern Hemisphere and flow to the left (counter clockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere
5. What is the largest and most powerful warm surface current in the North Atlantic Ocean, caused by strong winds from the west? / Gulf Stream

6. What type of surface current is the Gulf Stream? (Warm or Cold) / Warm
6. What is climate? / Is the pattern of temperature and precipitation typical of an area over a long period of time
8. How do surface currents influence the climate of land near the coast? / Surface current warms or cools the air above it, influencing the climate of the land near the coast
9. How does the Gulf Stream affect the climate along the east coast of the United States? / The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Tropics to the east coast of North America and causes the climate near the coast to be warmer than the climate inland.
10. These currents move deep below the surface of the ocean and are caused by differences in density (temperature and salinity)….. / Deep Currents
11. The density of water depends on it ______and ______. / Decrease Temperature and an increase in salinity
12. Would you expect salinity to be high or low in a rainy ocean region near the mouth of a river? Why? / It would be lower, because freshwater is being added to saltwater- decreasing salinity of the water
13. What happens to the density of ocean water when the salinity of the water increases? Does the water sink or rise? Why / The water becomes more dense and sinks
14. Which is more dense (Warm water) or (Cold water)? / Cold water is more dense than warm water
15. Describe three ways the density of ocean water can increase: / 1. When the temperature of ocean water decrease it becomes more dense and sinks
2. When the salinity of ocean water increases through freezing the water becomes more dense and sinks
3. When the salinity of the ocean water increases through evaporation, the salt is left behind and the water becomes more dense and sinks
16. Most waves form when______blowing across the water’s surface transmit their energy to the water. / Winds
17. The size of a wave depends on what three things. / 1. Strength of the wind- stronger winds create larger waves
2. The length of time the wind blows- the longer the winds blows the larger the wave
3. The distance over which the wind blows- winds blowing across longer distances build up bigger waves
18. The ______of the wave moves toward the shore, but the ______remains where it was. / 1. energy
2. water
19. Draw and label the parts of a wave: crest, trough, wavelength, and Wave Height. /
20. What happens to the wavelength and the wave height as the wave approaches the shore? / The wave height increases and the wave length decreases
21. ______is the rise and fall of Earth’s waters on its coastlines. / Tides
22. What force causes the tides to occur on Earth’s surface? / Gravity
22. Why does the moon’s gravitational pull have a greater influence on Earth’s waters when compared to the Sun? The Sun is the most massive body in our Solar System. / The Moon is closer to the Earth
23. How many high tides and low tides occur each day (24 hour period)? / 2 high tides and 2 low times
24. What is a tidal range? / The difference between the water levels during high and low tides
26. Diagram and Label a Spring Tide: Sun, Earth, Moon, and tidal bulge. /
27. In which phases of the moon do Springs Tides occur? / New moon and Full Moon
28. Why is the tidal range the greatest during a Spring Tide? / The combined gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon
29. Diagram and Label a Neap Tide: Sun, Earth, Moon, tidal bulge. /
30. In which phases of the moon do Neap Tides occur? / First Quarter and Third (Last) Quarter
31. Diagram and Label the phases of the Moon: New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Third Quarter /