Back to the full dot-point answer
NSWEarth and Environmental ScienceQuick questions
Module 7: Climate Science
Quick questions on Oceans and climate: HSC Earth and Environmental Science Module 7
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is thermohaline circulation?Show answer
Beneath the surface, a slow global circulation is driven by differences in temperature and salinity (thermo for heat, haline for salt), together controlling density. Cold, salty water in polar regions is dense and sinks, driving a deep flow that connects all the ocean basins in a circulation sometimes called the global conveyor belt, taking around a thousand years to complete. This deep circulation stores heat and carbon for centuries and helps regulate long-term climate.
What is q1?Show answer
Explain how the high heat capacity of the ocean moderates the climate of coastal regions. [3 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain how ocean uptake of carbon dioxide affects the Great Barrier Reef. [4 marks]
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.