Question

Which statements describe currents in the oceans? Check all that apply.

El Niño is a current of water between Australia and North America.
Currents occur at the surface of and deep within the ocean.
The Coriolis effect contributes to the direction of current flow.
Currents often change in unpredictable ways, causing climate change.
Wind direction, the spin of Earth, and differences in temperature contribute to currents.

Answer 1

Correct answers: 2, 3, and 5.

- El Niño is not a single current between Australia and North America — it is a recurring climate pattern (warming of the central/eastern tropical Pacific) caused by changes in winds and ocean circulation, not a steady current connecting those continents. (False)
- Currents occur at the surface and deep within the ocean. Surface currents are mainly wind-driven; deep currents are driven by density differences (temperature and salinity). (True)
- The Coriolis effect (Earth’s rotation) does influence the direction of ocean currents. (True)
- Currents do vary and can affect climate variability (e.g., El Niño), but they do not “often change in unpredictable ways, causing climate change.” Long-term climate change is driven mainly by changes in atmospheric composition; currents contribute to variability and redistribution of heat. (False)
- Wind direction, Earth’s spin, and temperature differences all contribute to the formation and direction of ocean currents (salinity differences also play a role). (True)