Ocean current

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ocean-current

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary drivers?Wind, Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), and density differences (thermohaline)
2. What are ocean currents and why do they move water around the planet?Ocean currents are like giant rivers in the sea that move water around the world. They are driven mainly by wind, the Earth's rotation, and differences in water temperature and saltiness.
3. How does wind help create ocean currents?Wind pushes on the surface of the ocean, giving the water a speed and direction. This creates surface currents that travel across the ocean.

Coriolis Effect: An apparent force caused by Earth's rotation that deflects moving objects, influencing the direction of ocean currents and winds.
Thermohaline Circulation: Global ocean circulation driven by differences in water temperature and salinity, forming the 'global conveyor belt'.
Upwelling: The process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, supporting marine ecosystems and fisheries.
Downwelling: The process where surface water becomes denser and sinks, transporting dissolved gases and heat into the deep ocean.