Ocean Currents and Global Heat

Question 1

Which statement best describes the two‑step way the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation moves warmth from the tropical Atlantic to the climate of Western Europe?

Accepted Answer

Warm surface water travels northward, releasing heat to the air over the North Atlantic; after it cools enough to become dense, it sinks near Greenland and the deep water flows south, while more warm surface water continues northward delivering heat.

Answer

Cold, salty water forms in the tropics, sinks immediately, and travels southward as a deep current that brings warm water up to Europe.

Answer

Warm water moves eastward across the Atlantic, evaporates, and the water vapor condenses as rain over Europe, delivering the heat.

Answer

Surface water flows north but never cools; the heat is transferred directly through the ocean floor to Europe.

Question 2

Which statement correctly describes where the dense, cold, salty water sinks to start the global thermohaline (conveyor‑belt) circulation?

Accepted Answer

In the North Atlantic near Greenland and Iceland, where cold, salty water becomes very dense and sinks.

Answer

In the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, where the water is warm and less salty.

Answer

At the equator in the Pacific Ocean, where warm surface water meets cold water.

Answer

At the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, where water is fresh and light.

Question 3

Imagine a parcel of Atlantic water at the equator is warmed to about 27 °C and becomes a bit saltier because of evaporation. It then travels northward. Which sequence correctly shows how the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation uses that water to bring extra warmth to the climate of western Europe?

Accepted Answer

The warm, salty surface water moves north, releases heat to the air over Europe, then cools, becomes dense, sinks in the high latitudes, and the cold deep water flows southward back toward the tropics.

Answer

Cold, fresh water from the Arctic travels south along the ocean floor, picks up heat from the deep ocean, and when it reaches the tropics it rises and warms the atmosphere over Europe.

Answer

Warm surface water moves north but never sinks because it stays warm; the heat reaches Europe only when the wind pushes the water directly onto the continent.

Answer

Salty water in the subtropics sinks immediately, pulling warm water from the tropics northward, and the sinking water itself carries the heat directly to Europe.

Try three questions

Which statement best describes the two‑step way the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation moves warmth from the tropical Atlantic to the climate of Western Europe?

Which statement correctly describes where the dense, cold, salty water sinks to start the global thermohaline (conveyor‑belt) circulation?

Keep going on this shelf