Question

Which statements describe the movement of ocean currents around the globe? Check all that apply.

Strong winds force warm water to sink to the ocean floor.
The Coriolis effect causes warm and cold water to mix.
Cool dense water sinks to the ocean floor.
Warm water replaces cool surface water.
Wind blowing parallel to the shore causes upwelling of cool water.

Answer 1

Correct statements:
- Cool dense water sinks to the ocean floor.
- Warm water replaces cool surface water.
- Wind blowing parallel to the shore causes upwelling of cool water.

Brief explanations:
- Cold, salty water is denser and sinks, driving the deep (thermohaline) circulation.
- When surface water sinks (or is moved away), warmer surface water flows in to replace it as part of the circulation.
- Winds blowing along a coast can produce offshore Ekman transport that draws deeper, cooler water up to the surface (upwelling) when the wind direction is appropriate.

Why the others are wrong:
- Strong winds move surface water and can cause downwelling in some cases, but they do not generally "force warm water to sink to the ocean floor."
- The Coriolis effect deflects moving water (changing current direction) but does not itself mix warm and cold water; mixing is caused by turbulence, eddies, and upwelling/downwelling processes.