Question

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

Answer 1

Answer:

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

Explanation:

Ocean currents act much like a conveyor belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Thus, ocean currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface. Without currents in the ocean, regional temperatures would be more extreme—super hot at the equator and frigid toward the poles—and much less of Earth’s land would be habitable.