How tides and ocean currents form and the basic physical science behind them, one concept per card.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What causes tides?
- The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans
- How many high tides occur in most locations each day?
- Two, one on the side facing the Moon and one on the opposite side
- What is the Coriolis effect?
- The apparent deflection of moving objects due to Earth's rotation
- In what direction do rip currents flow?
- Seaward, away from the shore
- Spring tides are characterized by what?
- The largest difference between high and low tide levels
- When do spring tides occur?
- When the Sun and Moon are aligned on the same side of Earth
- Neap tides result from what Moon-Sun configuration?
- The Sun and Moon positioned at right angles relative to Earth
- What is a thermocline?
- A layer of ocean where temperature changes rapidly with depth
- What does ocean salinity measure?
- The concentration of dissolved salts in seawater
- The Gulf Stream is what type of ocean current?
- A warm current flowing northeastward from the Caribbean
- The Humboldt Current is characterized as what type?
- A cold ocean current flowing along the coast of South America
- Name four factors that drive ocean currents.
- Wind, temperature differences, salinity variations, and Earth's rotation
- What is an ocean gyre?
- A large system of rotating ocean currents
- Upwelling brings what to the ocean surface?
- Deep, cold water rising from the ocean depths
- At what depth does the abyssal zone begin?
- Below 2000 meters
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