Surface ocean currents and the Coriolis effect

Grade 9 Science Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   NOAA: trade winds near 30° N blow from the northeast toward the southwest. Why not straight toward the equator, by Bo's reading?

   • Mountains block it
   • Ocean salt pushes the wind
   • The Coriolis effect turns the air to the right
   • The Coriolis effect turns it to the left
2. 2.

   Wind pushing surface water offshore as cold water rises. NOAA: in downwelling, wind piles surface water against a coast. What does that water do, by Esme's reading?

   • It freezes
   • It rises, bringing nutrients up
   • It sinks toward the bottom
   • It flows uphill onto land
3. 3.

   A current moving north in the Southern Hemisphere is deflected which way, by Jun's reading (NOAA)?

   • To the right, toward the east
   • Not deflected
   • To the left, toward the west
   • Straight down
4. 4.

   Five gyres on a world map with their turning directions. Which way do Southern Hemisphere gyres turn, by Kira's reading (NOAA)?

   • Clockwise
   • Counterclockwise
   • They do not turn
   • They change direction each year
6. 5.

   NOAA: the Gulf Stream is paired with another current to flank the North Atlantic gyre. Which, by Luz's reading?

   • A gyre right on the equator
   • A deep, cold, salt-driven current
   • The Canary Current, a weak, broad eastern boundary current
   • A second strong western boundary current
7. 6.

   How does the Gulf Stream affect Florida's east coast, by Milo's reading (NOAA)?

   Use the picture in question 5.

   • Warmer winters and cooler summers than nearby states
   • Colder winters than nearby states
   • No effect on the coast
   • Hotter summers than nearby states
9. 7.

   NOAA: the Gulf Stream travels 25 to 75 miles a day. How far could it carry a drifter in 10 days, by Noah's math?

   • About 35 to 85 miles
   • About 250 to 750 miles
   • About 2,500 to 7,500 miles
   • About 2.5 to 7.5 miles
10. 8.

    NOAA: the Gulf Stream moves 1 to 3 knots, or 1.85 to 5.55 km/h. How far does it go in a day at 1.85 km/h, by Pia's math?

    Use the picture in question 7.

    • About 1.85 km
    • About 4.4 km
    • About 444 km
    • About 44 km
11. 9.

    At 5.55 km/h, about how many days would the Gulf Stream take to carry a drifter 1,000 km, by Ren's math?

    Use the picture in question 7.

    • About 180 days
    • About 5,550 days
    • About 7.5 days
    • About 0.75 days
12. 10.

    About how deep does the Ekman spiral reach, by Zee's reading (NOAA)?

    • Down to the sea floor
    • About 1,000 m
    • About 100 m
    • About 10 m