Surface Currents
Stream-like movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean.
Surface Currents
The _____________ flows southward from the great barreir reef.
The East Australian Current
If Earth's surface were covered only with water, currents would travel in a fixed pattern across the Earth, but Earth’s surface is not covered only with water.
Continental Deflections
Stream-like movements of ocean water far below the ocean surface. Deep currents are not controlled by wind or the Coriolis effect.
Deep Currents
Waves are made of two main components
crests and troughs.
Surface currents flow like ______ around the Earth.
Rivers
Speeds in the core of the East Australian Current are among the strongest in the South Pacific.
4.5 mph
Warm water currents begin near the equator and carry warm water to other parts of the ocean. Coldwater currents begin closer to the poles and carry cool water to other parts of the ocean.
Water Tempertaure
Deep currents are mainly controlled by _________(increases or decreases) in water density.
increases
The highest point in the wave.
A crest.
Name 2 of the 4 factors that control surface currents.
global winds, the Coriolis effect,
continental deflections, water
temperature.
The East Australian Current transports a staggering ________________.
40 million cubic meters
Surface currents _______ affect the climate in many parts of the world.
greatly
Temperature and salinity affect the _________(mass or density) of ocean water.
density
This is the lowest point in the wave.
trough
What is one of the longest surface current?
The Gulf Stream
The current is almost _____ wide.
100 km
Where Cold-water currents create cooler climates in coastal areas that would be much warmer
San Francisco
Starting at a depth of about________, the water temperature becomes colder as the depth increases.
200 meters
The distance between two adjust crests or troughs
wavelength
Currents in the Northern Hemisphere turn clockwise while currents in the South. Hemisphere turn counterclockwise.
Coriolis Effect
How deep is the East Australian Current?
1.5 km deep.
Where warm-water currents create warmer climates in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler.
Iceland
The _____________(denser and less dense) water moves along the ocean floor and eventually travels toward the equator in the form of a deep current.
denser
The vertical distance between a wave's crest and its trough.
Wave height