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 …….
3. Warm surface currents
originate (start) near the
…….
4. Why do surface currents
move in circular patterns?
Mainly by Winds (Global)
Equator
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
Gulf Stream
most powerful warm
surface current in the North
Atlantic Ocean, caused by
strong winds from the
west?
6. What type of surface
current is the Gulf Stream?
(Warm or Cold)
6. What is climate?
Warm
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?
10. These currents move
deep below the surface of
the ocean and are caused
by differences in density
(temperature and
salinity)…..
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.
Is the pattern of temperature and precipitation typical of an area over a long period
of time
Deep Currents
11. The density of water
depends on it ___________
and ___________.
12. Would you expect
salinity to be high or low in
a rainy ocean region near
the mouth of a river? Why?
13. What happens to the
density of ocean water
when the salinity of the
water increases? Does the
water sink or rise? Why
14. Which is more dense
(Warm water) or (Cold
water)?
15. Describe three ways
the density of ocean water
can increase:
Decrease Temperature and an increase in salinity
16. Most waves form
when__________ blowing
across the water’s surface
transmit their energy to the
water.
17. The size of a wave
depends on what three
things.
Winds
18. The ______________
of the wave moves toward
the shore, but the
____________ remains
where it was.
19. Draw and label the
parts of a wave: crest,
trough, wavelength, and
Wave Height.
1. energy
2. water
20. What happens to the
The wave height increases and the wave length decreases
It would be lower, because freshwater is being added to saltwater- decreasing salinity
of the water
The water becomes more dense and sinks
Cold water is more dense than warm water
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
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
wavelength and the wave
height as the wave
approaches the shore?
21. _____________ is the
rise and fall of Earth’s
waters on its coastlines.
22. What force causes the
tides to occur on Earth’s
surface?
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.
23. How many high tides
and low tides occur each
day (24 hour period)?
24. What is a tidal range?
Tides
Gravity
The Moon is closer to the Earth
2 high tides and 2 low times
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?
28. Why is the tidal range
the greatest during a Spring
Tide?
29. Diagram and Label a
Neap Tide: Sun, Earth,
Moon, tidal bulge.
New moon and Full Moon
The combined gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon
30. In which phases of the
moon do Neap Tides occur?
31. Diagram and Label the
phases of the Moon: New
Moon, First Quarter, Full
Moon, and Third Quarter
First Quarter and Third (Last) Quarter