Ocean Surface Currents (Slides 1&2)
Streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called what?
Surface currents.
It flows ______________ from the Great Barrier Reef.
Southward.
Warm-water currents create ________ climates in coastal areas that would otherwise be much ______.
Warmer than cooler.
Deep currents are stream-like movements of ocean water ______ the ocean surface.
Waves are made of two main components-_________ and _________.
Crests and troughs.
The Gulf Stream which is one of the longest surface currents transports ____ times more water than all of the rivers in the world and flows from Florida to Iceland!
25
Speeds in the core of the EAC are up to ____ mph an hour.
4.5 mph.
Warm water currents begin near the _________ and carry warm water to other parts of the ocean.
Equator.
The volume of the water _______ and the water becomes denser.
Decreases.
A crest is a ________ point and the trough is the _______ point.
Highest than lowest.
Surface currents are like _____ and in distinct patterns around the Earth.
Rivers.
Can you jump in and out of the EAC as your thrill-seeking self desires?
No, it is much bigger and wider than the one in Nemo, not so great for surfing.
Surface currents greatly affect the ________ in many parts of the world.
Climate.
Ocean water gets _____ when it becomes saltier or gets colder.
Denser.
A ____________ is the distance between two adjusts crests or troughs.
Wavelength.
Surface currents can reach depths of several hundred ______ and lengths of several thousand ____________.
Meters and Kilometers.
The current is almost _____ km wide, and more than ___ km deep.
100 km wide, 1.5 km deep.
Cold-water currents create ______ climates in coastal areas that would be much __________.
Cooler and warmer.
Less-dense water always flows _____ of denser water.
Wave height is the _________ distance between a wave's crest and its trough.
Vertical.
Surface currents are controlled by four factors; global winds, ________ ________, continental deflections, and water temperature.
Coriolis effect.
The East Australian current transports more than ____ million cubic meters of water southward... EACH SECOND!
40.
When currents meet landforms, they change direction. This is known as __________ ___________.
The denser water moves along the ocean floor and eventually travels toward the ______ in the form of a deep current.
The Equator.
Ocean waves form because of ________ between the wind and the surface of the water
Friction.