Ocean Surface Currents (Slides 1 & 2)
Streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called
Surface Currents.
the EAC are among the strongest in the South Pacific, with up to __ mph hour
4.5
If Earth's surface were covered only with water, currents would travel in a __ pattern across the Earth
fixed
___ are stream-like movements of ocean water far below the ocean surface.
Deep currents
Waves are made of two main components - ___and ____
crests and troughs
The Gulf Stream, which is one of the
longest surface currents, transports __ more water than all of the rivers in the world and flows from Florida to Iceland!
25 times
The East Australian Current transport staggering __ million cubic metres of water southward each second.
40
When currents meet land forms they__
change direction
Deep currents are mainly controlled by?
increases in water density.
A ___ is the highest point
crest
Surface currents are controlled by what four factors?
global winds, the Coriolis effect, continental deflections, and the water temperature.
The current is almost __ km wide,and more than 1.5 km deep – in fact, more like a ribbon than a tube.
100
Cold water currents begin closer to the __ and carry cool water to other parts of the ocean.
poles
Temperature and __ affect the density of ocean water.
salinity
the __ is the lowest point.
trough
Global winds blowing across the Earth’s surface create?
surface currents.
The East Australian Current is __ the fast-flowing warp-tube
not
Warm water currents begin near the __ and carry warm water to other parts of the ocean.
equator
the volume of the water decreases, and the water becomes ___
denser
A ___ is the distance between two adjust crests or troughs.
wavelength
currents in the Northern Hemisphere turn clockwise while currents in the Southern Hemisphere turn?
counterclockwise
does it flow southward from the Great Barrier Reef?
yes
Warm-water currents create ___climates in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler
warmer
Starting at a depth of about ___ meters, the water temperature becomes colder as the depth increases.
200
A __ is the vertical distance between a waves crest and its trough.
wave height