Ocean surface currents
(Slides 1&2)
(Slides 1&2)
Streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called?
Surface currents
Does the east Australian current flow along the east coast of Australia?
Yes. Obviously
What is Continental Deflection?
When currents meet landforms, they change direction.
Stream-like currents movements of ocean water far below the surface are called?
Deep Currents
Waves are made of what two main components?
crests and troughs
Surface currents are controlled by four factors:
global winds, the Coriolis effect, continental deflections, and the water temperature.
Which direction does The East Australian Current flow from the Great Barrier Reef?
Southward
Warm currents begin from?
The Equator
Deepwater currents are mainly controlled by?
increases in water density
A ___ is the highest point
crest
The Gulf Stream is one of?
one of the longest surface currents
Speeds are up to?
4.5 mph
Cold currents begin and?
Carry cool water to other parts of the shows
_______ and salinity affect the density of ocean water.
Temperature
the ___ is the lowest point.
trough
What causes Surface currents?
Global winds blowing across the Earth’s surface
How many cubic meters does the East Australian Current transport a second?
40 million
Warm water currents create warmer climates in ________ ____ that would otherwise be much cooler
Coastal areas
Ocean water gets denser when it becomes?
Saltier or gets colder
What is the distance between two adjust crests or troughs called?
A wavelength
What happens because of the Coriolis effect?
currents in the Northern Hemisphere turn clockwise while currents in the Southern Hemisphere turn counterclockwise.
The current is almost ___ km wide, and more than ___ km deep
100, 1.5
Cold-water currents create cooler climates in coastal areas that would be much warmer. An example is?
San Fransisco
Cold air chills the water molecules at the surface, causing them to?
Move closer together
Ocean waves form because of?
friction between the wind and the surface of the water