Question

Use the passage to answer the question. This is the definition of gyre: a giant circular ocean current. Based on this definition, what can be added to refine the meaning of gyre?

1) A gyre is formed by the movement of ocean currents.
2) Gyres can be found in all the major oceans of the world.
3) Gyres play a crucial role in the global climate system.
4) The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an example of a gyre.

Answer 1

A gyre is a large system of circular ocean currents, formed by Earth's rotation, and found in all major oceans. They are crucial for heat distribution and climate regulation but also can accumulate marine pollution like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Step-by-step explanation:

To refine the meaning of a gyre, additional information can be incorporated. Specifically:

1. A gyre is formed by the movement of ocean currents and is shaped by the Earth's rotation and the position of continents.
2. Gyres can be found in all the major oceans of the world, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic oceans.
3. Gyres play a crucial role in the global climate system by distributing heat, influencing weather patterns, and impacting marine ecosystems.

However, not all accumulations of debris in the ocean are gyres. For instance, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a result of debris being concentrated by the Pacific Gyre, but the garbage patch itself is not a gyre. Instead, it's an example of marine pollution accumulating in a gyre.