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 does flow along the
East coast of Australia
If Earth's surface were covered only with water
Currents would travel in a fixed pattern across the Earth
___ ___ are stream-like movements of ocean water far below the ocean surface.
Deep currents
Waves are made of two main components -
crests and troughs.
Surface currents are controlled by four factors:
global winds, the Coriolis effect,
continental deflections, and the water
temperature.
Speeds in the core of the EAC are among the
Strongest in the South Pacific.
When currents meet landforms,
They change directions
Deep currents are mainly controlled by
increases in water density.
A ____ is the highest point and the ____ is the lowest point.
Crest, trough.
Global winds blowing across the Earth’s surface create
surface currents.
The real East Australian Current is much __ then in the movie
bigger and much wilder
Warm water currents begin near the __ and carry __ water to other parts of the ocean.
equator, warm
___ and ___ affect the density of ocean water.
Temperture and salinity
A ___ is the distance between two adjust crests or troughs.
The rotation of the Earth causes surface currents to move in
Curved paths
The East Australian Current transports a staggering __ every second
40 million cubic metres of water southward
Surface currents ___ affect the climate in many parts of the world.
Greatly
Cold air chills the water molecules at the surface, causing them to
move closer together.
___ is the vertical distance between a waves crest and its trough.
wave height
Because of the Coriolis Effect, currents in the Northern Hemisphere turn
Clockwise
The current is almost __ wide, and __ deep.
100 km wide, and more than 1.5 km deep
Some surface currents warm and some cool coastal areas ___, which affects the climate.
year-round
The denser water moves along the ocean floor and eventually travels toward the
equator in a deep current.
A wave is defined as a
transfer of energy.