🔍 Key Concepts

• North Pacific Ocean circulation patterns (Kuroshio, North Pacific Current, and general gyre rotation) • Relationship between prevailing winds (westerlies) and surface current direction in mid‑latitudes • Difference between boundary currents (western vs. eastern sides of an ocean basin)

💭 Think About

• Visualize the large clockwise circulation (gyre) in the North Pacific. Along about the latitude of Japan–Seattle, is the main flow generally eastward or westward? • If a ship is going from Japan (west) to Seattle (east), will it mostly be moving with that main current flow or against it? • Consider whether the dominant feature across an entire ocean basin would be strong, consistent currents or weak, random ones with no net effect.

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify the direction of the North Pacific Current around 35°–45° N latitude • Decide if that current direction is with or against a ship steaming eastbound from Japan to Seattle • Ask whether the effect of that current on total steaming time would be small and random or consistent over most of the route