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 East Australian Current transports a staggering___
40 million cubic metres of water
Some surface currents warm and some cool coastal areas_____
year-round
Temperature and salinity affect the density of_____
ocean water.
Waves move in a_____
circular pattern.
The Gulf Stream transports __ times more water than all of the rivers in the world
25
The current is almost___
100 km wide
Surface currents greatly affect the climate in many parts of ____
The world
Cold air chills the water molecules at the surface, causing them to____
move closer together.
A crest is the highest point and the trough is the____
lowest point.
Surface currents can reach depths of ___ hundred meters and lengths of ___ thousand kilometers.
Several
East Australian Current is a narrow jet that you can jump in and out of as your thrill-seeking self desires______
But actually the real East Australian Current is much bigger and much wilder than in the movie
When currents meet landforms, they____
change direction.
Deep currents are mainly controlled by ____
increases in water density.
There are lots of waves all around us in___
everyday life.
Global winds blowing across the Earth’s surface create ____
Surface currents
The East Australian Current is not the fast-flowing warp-tube as it’s portrayed in the movie_____
it’s an even better ride than that.
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
Ocean waves form because of friction between the wind and the _____
surface of the water.
Coriolis Effect
Speeds in the core of the EAC are among the strongest in the South Pacific____
up to 4.5 mph an hour
Warm water currents begin near the equator and carry warm water to______
other parts of the ocean.
Deep currents are not controlled by wind or the _____
Coriolis effect
A wavelength is the distance between two adjust___
crests or troughs