Oceans
Science

A part of the ocean floor that dips steeply down from the continental shelf
Continental slope
A part of the ocean floor that dips steeply down from the continental shelf. Continental slope. The continental slope is the area where the ocean floor quickly drops in depth after the shallower continental shelf.

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current
Coriolis effect
The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and current Coriolis effect. The Coriolis effect makes moving air and water turn and twist, causing winds in the northern hemisphere to deflect to the right and in the southern hemisphere to the left.

A worldwide climate change, caused by an increase in the Pacific Ocean’s temperature
El Nino
A worldwide climate change, caused by an increase in the Pacific Oceans temperature. El Nino. El Nino is a natural climate pattern where warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures occur in the Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather.

A worldwide climate change, caused by a decrease in the Pacific Ocean’s temperature
La Nina
A worldwide climate change, caused by a decrease in the Pacific Oceans temperature. La Nia. La Nia is a climate pattern where the sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become cooler than average, impacting global weather patterns.

A long mountain range on the seafloor formed by lava eruptions through Earth’s crust
Mid ocean ridge
A long mountain range on the seafloor formed by lava eruptions through Earths crust. Mid-ocean ridge. A mid-ocean ridge is an undersea mountain range where new oceanic crust is created by volcanic activity.