Ocean Surface Currents (Slides 1 & 2)
Surface currents flow like rivers in distinct patterns around the
Earth
East Australian Current transports a staggering
40 million cubic metres of water
If Earth's surface were covered only with water
currents would travel in a fixed pattern across the Earth
Deep currents are stream-like movements of
ocean water
Waves move in a _____.
circular pattern
Global winds blowing across the Earth’s surface create
surface currents
he current is almost ____ wide,
100 km
Warm water currents begin near
the equator
Deep currents are not controlled by wind or
the Coriolis effect
Ocean waves form because of ___ between the wind and the surface of the water
friction
the rotation of the Earth causes
surface currents
Speeds in the core of the EAC are
among the strongest in the South Pacific, up
to
4.5 mph an hour
Cold water currents begin closer to the
poles
Temperature and salinity affect the ___ of ocean water.
density
____ is the vertical distance between a waves crest and its trough.
Wave height
Streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called
Surface Currents
The current is almost 100 km wide, and more than ____ deep
1.5 km
Warm-water currents create
warmer climates
Ocean water gets ___ when it becomes saltier or gets colder
denser
A ____is the distance between two adjust crests or troughs.
wavelength
Surface currents are controlled by four
factors
global winds, the Coriolis effect,
continental deflections, and the water
temperature
the real East Australian Current is much
bigger and much wilder
Cold-water currents create
cooler climates
The denser water moves along the ocean floor and eventually travels toward the ____ in the form of a deep current
equator
Waves are made of two main components
crests and troughs