Ocean Surface Currents (Slides 1 & 2)
Streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called
Surface currents
speeds that you could go up to is
4.5 mph
Warm-water currents create ________ in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler
warmer climates
Temperature and salinity affect the _____ of ocean water.
density
A ______ is the distance between two adjust crests or troughs.
wavelength
The Gulf Stream, transports ______ times more water than all rivers
25
The _________ current is not the fastest
East australian
Likewise, Cold-water currents create _______ in coastal areas that would be much warmer
cooler climates
Ocean water gets denser when it becomes ________
saltier or gets colder.
______ is the vertical distance between a waves crest and its trough.
Wave height
Controlled by four factors
surface currents
The East australian current transports a staggering _________ cubic meters of water
40 million
When currents meet landforms, they change ______
direction
Cold air chills the water molecules at the surface, causing them to ______
move closer together.
A ___ is the highest point
crest
Global winds blowing across the _____ surface
Earth´s
The current is almost ____ wide
100 km
This is known as __________
continental deflection.
Starting at a depth of about 200 meters, the water temperature becomes colder as the depth increases.
200 meters
the ____ is the lowest point.
trough
_____ causes surface currents to move in curved paths
Earth´s
and more ____ deep
1.5 km
Surface currents _______ affect the climate in many parts of the world.
greatly
The denser water moves along the ocean floor and eventually travels toward the equator in the form of a deep ____
current
Ocean waves form because of _______
friction between the wind and the surface of the water.