Ocean Currents and Climate

Ocean Currents and Climate

Ocean water contains streamlike movements of water called ocean currents. Currents are influenced by a number of factors, including weather, the Earth's rotation, and the position of the continents.

There are two types of ocean currents:

Surface Currents: Horizontal, streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called surface currents

Surface Currents: The Gulf Stream is one of the longest surface currents.

Surface Currents: Surface currents are controlled by three factors which keep surface currents flowing in distinct patterns around the Earth.

Surface Currents: 1. Global Winds - winds that blow across the Earth's surface to create surface currents in the ocean.

Surface Currents: Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions. Near the equator, the winds blow ocean water east to west, but closer to the poles, ocean water is blown west to east.

Surface Currents: 2. Coriolis Effect - The Earth's rotation causes wind and surface currents to move in curved paths rather than in straight lines.

Surface Currents: The Coriolis Effect causes surface currents in the Northern Hemisphere to turn clockwise, and surface currents in the Southern Hemisphere to turn counterclockwise.

Surface Currents: 3. Continental deflections - When surface currents meet continents, the currents deflect, or change direction.

Surface Currents and Climate Surface currents greatly affect the climate in many parts of the world. Some surface currents warm or cool coastal areas year-round.

Surface Currents and Climate Surface currents are affected by the temperature of the water in which they form.

Surface Currents and Climate Surface currents are classified as warm-water or cold-water.

Surface Currents and Climate 1. Warm-water currents begin near the equator and carry warm water to other parts of the ocean.

Surface Currents and Climate 2. Cold-water currents begin closer to the poles and carry cool water to other parts of the ocean.

Quick Review: Surface currents are on the surface of the Earth s oceans. How many factors control surface currents? 3. List and explain all of the factors that control surface currents. Global winds: winds that blow across the Earth's surface Coriolis effect: The Earth's rotation causes wind and surface currents to move in curved paths rather than in straight lines Continental deflection: when surface currents meet continents, the currents deflect, or change direction

Deep Currents: Streamlike movements of ocean water located far below the surface are called deep currents.

Deep Currents: Deep currents are not directly controlled by wind. Deep currents form in parts of the ocean where water density increases.

Deep Currents: The density of ocean water is affected by temperature and salinity Salinity is how much salt is dissolved in the water.

Deep Currents: Decreasing the temperature of ocean water and increasing the water's salinity increase the water's density.

Quick Review: Deep currents are far beneath the Earth s oceans. How many factors control deep currents? 2. List and explain all of the factors that control deep currents. Salinity Temperature The lower the temperature and the higher the salinity, the more dense the water is.

Deep Currents: -Deep under the surface -Factors are salinity and temperature Surface Currents: -on the surface of the Earth s oceans -Factors are global winds, Coriolis Effect, and continental deflection Both: -Occur in the ocean