Ocean Surface Currents (Slides 1 and 2)
Stream like movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean
Surface Currents
This flows across The East coast of Australia and it flows southward from the Great Barrier 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 in water. When currents meet landforms, the change direction. What is this called?
Continental Deflection
Stream-Like movements of ocean water far below the ocean surface.;
Deep Currents
The distance between two adjust crests or troughs.
Wavelength
Surface currents flow like rivers in ___________________ around the Earth
Distinct patterns
The East Australian Current transports 40 million cubic meters of water _____ every second
Southward
What water currents begin near the equaroe and carry warm water to other parts of the ocean
Warm Water Currents
What step is missing?
Surface currents carry warmer, less dense water from the equator to the poles
Warm water from surface currents replaces colder, denser water that sinks to the ocean floor
Water from deep currents rises to replace water, leaving in surface currents
Deep currents carry colder, denser water along the ocean floor from the poles to the equator.
Waves that require a medium
Mechanical Waves
This blows across the Earth’s surface create surface currents
Global Winds
How many mph can the core of the EAC go?
4.5 mph
What water currents begin at the poles and carry cool water to other parts of the ocean
Cold Water Currents
What affects the density of the ocean water?
Temperature and salinity
A wave is defined as a transfer of
Energy
One of the longest surface currents, transports 25 times more water than all of the rivers in the world and flows from Florida to Iceland
The Gulf Stream
How wide is the current?
100km wide
The climate of the world
The water temperature becomes _____ as the depth increases
Colder
Ocean waves are called
Mechanical Waves
Because of this, currents in the Northern Hemisphere turn clockwise while currents in the Southern Hemisphere turn counterclockwise
Coriolis Effect
How deep is the current?
1.5km
What causes changes in the atmosphere that disrupt the climate
Surface currents war, and soon cool coastal areas year-round
The denser water moves along the ocean floor and eventually travels toward the equator in the form of a _________
Deep Current
Form because of friction between the wind and the surface of the water.
Ocean Waves