The ocean receives most of its heat along the equator, where incoming solar radiation is about double that received at the poles. Hence, sea surfaces are much warmer along the equator than at the poles. ... The ocean has a high temperature and momentum “inertia,” or resistance to change.
Which sentence best explains why ocean water near the equator is warmer than the ocean water far from the equator?
Answer: C. The sun's rays strikes the water at an angle at the poles . Because the earth rotates at a tilted axis which causes the difference in temperature of water near the equator and water far from equator.
What happens to water near the equator?
Near the equator, the tropics receive the most rain on a consistent basis . As a result, the fresh water falling into the ocean helps decrease the salinity of the surface water in that region. As one move toward the poles, the region of rain decreases and with less rain and more sunshine, evaporation increases.
What is the difference between the water found near the poles and the equator?
The equatorial bulge affects the ocean, too—sea levels are slightly higher in equatorial regions than near the poles. The equatorial bulge is created by the Earth's rotation. As lines of latitude increase in size, a point has to travel faster to complete a circle (revolution) in the same amount of time.
What would Earth be like if ocean water did not move?
If ocean currents were to stop, climate could change quite significantly , particularly in Europe and countries in the North Atlantic. In these countries, temperatures would drop, affecting humans as well as plants and animals. In turn, economies could also be affected, particularly those that involve agriculture.
Which sentence best describes why it's colder at the poles than at the equator?
Ultimately, the temperature in an area depends on the amount of the Sun's energy reaching the surface in that area. The amount of solar energy in a given area is greater at the equator than in an equal area at the poles , which is why the equator temperature is warmer than the polar temperatures.
Which is the saltiest lake in the world?
It may be small, but of all the world's lakes that are hypersaline (extremely high in their salt content) Don Juan Pond in Antarctica is the saltiest. With more than 40 percent salinity, the lake never freezes — even at temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do toilets spin backwards in Australia?
Australian Toilets Don't Flush Backwards Because of the Coriolis Effect. ... The real cause of “backwards”-flushing toilets is just that the water jets point in the opposite direction.
Why does water swirl clockwise?
The Coriolis force tends to make things on the surface of the object to spiral a certain direction. As the earth rotates, this motion causes everything on the surface to experience the Coriolis force, including the water in your sink.
What is it like living near the equator?
If you live on the equator you will experience the quickest rates of sunrise and sunset in the world , taking a matter of minutes. ... While tropical areas along the equator can experience wet and dry seasons, other regions may well be wet for much of the year.
Which country is closest to the equator?
- São Tomé and Principe.
- Gabon.
- Republic of the Congo.
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Uganda.
- Kenya.
- Somalia.
- Maldives.
Which ocean is not salt water?
The ice in the Arctic and Antarctica is salt free. You may want to point out the 4 major oceans including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. Remember that the limits of the oceans are arbitrary, as there is only one global ocean. Students may ask what are the smaller salty water areas called.
What happens if there is no ocean?
Well, without the oceans, the world loses 97% of its water . The small amount of liquid left wouldn't be enough to sustain the water cycle. The pools of drinkable water would evaporate pretty fast. In a matter of days, people and most animals would die from dehydration.
Can we survive without ocean?
Without healthy oceans, our life on Earth would be severely challenged, unpleasant and perhaps impossible. The oceans are the life support system of all living beings. That's because life on Earth can thrive without land, but it cannot exist without an ocean .
What percentage of human food comes from the ocean?
As food from the sea represents only 17% of the current production of edible meat, we ask how much food we can expect the ocean to sustainably produce by 2050.
What is the hottest place on earth?
Death Valley holds the record for the highest air temperature on the planet: On 10 July 1913, temperatures at the aptly named Furnace Creek area in the California desert reached a blistering 56.7°C (134.1°F).
