Question

Which statements accurately describe how ocean currents affect climate? Check all that apply.

Ocean currents cause places near the poles to be cooler than they would be otherwise.
Ocean currents cause places near the poles to be warmer than they would be otherwise.
Ocean currents do not affect places near the poles.
Ocean currents cause places near the equator to be cooler than they would be otherwise.
Ocean currents cause places near the equator to be warmer than they would be otherwise.
Ocean currents do not affect places near the equator.

Answer 1

Correct choices:
- Ocean currents cause places near the poles to be warmer than they would be otherwise.
- Ocean currents cause places near the equator to be cooler than they would be otherwise.

Brief explanation: Ocean currents redistribute heat from low to high latitudes. Warm currents carry heat poleward and moderate/raise temperatures at higher latitudes (e.g., the Gulf Stream warming northwest Europe). Cold currents carry cooler water toward lower latitudes and can cool equatorial/coastal regions (e.g., the Humboldt/Peru Current cooling western South America). The “do not affect” statements and the ones saying currents cool the poles or warm the equator are not generally correct.