Ocean Currents
What are ocean currents?
These large movements of water in the ocean are caused partly by convection currents.
Why does warm air rise?
It is less dense than the cooler air around it.
What is Convection?
The transfer of heat through the movement of liquids or gases.
What is a surface current?
This type of current moves along the top of the ocean and is caused mostly by wind.
Why does cool air sink?
It is denser and heavier than warm air.
What is Wind?
The movement of air, generally flowing horizontally across the Earth's surface from areas of high pressures to areas with low pressures.
What is a deep current?
This type of current is caused by differences in temperature and saltiness.
What is a convection cell?
A convection cell is a cycle of air in a loop that moves depending on the temperature and density.
Density-driven current of ocean water, powered by difference in temperatures and salinity that affect water density.
What is the equator?
Warm ocean currents usually start near this imaginary line around the middle of the Earth.
What is uneven heating of Earth’s surface?
This natural process uses convection to create wind.
How do Wind, Convection, and Thermohaline circulation work together?
Convection in the air creates Wind, then Wind pushes warm surface water toward the poles. Next, at the poles the water gets cold and salty causing it to sink which is Thermohaline circulation.