Ocean Surface Current Slides 1&2
Streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are called
Surface Currents.
does flow along
the East Coast of Australia, obviously
The East Australian Current
When currents meet landforms, they change direction.
continental deflection.
currents are stream-like movements of ocean water far below the ocean surface.
Deep
can travel through air, water, or solids, but it can't travel through a vacuum.
Sound
flow like rivers in distinct patterns around the Earth.
Surface currents
transports a staggering 40 million cubic meters of water southward each second.
The East Australian Current
currents begin to carry warm water to other parts of the ocean.
Warm water currents
Ocean water gets denser when it becomes saltier or gets
colder.
is defined as a transfer of energy.
A wave
Surface currents are controlled by four
factors:
global winds, the Coriolis effect,
continental deflections, and the water
temperature.
The current is almost
100 km wide, and more than 1.5 km deep
currents begin closer to the poles and carry cool water to other parts of the ocean.
Coldwater
and some cool coastal areas year-round.
Some surface currents warm
waves form because of friction between the wind and the surface of the water. Waves move in a circular pattern.
Ocean
is one of the
longest surface currents transport 25
times more water than all of the rivers in
the world and flows from Florida to Iceland!
The Gulf Stream
The East Australian Current does flow
southward from the Great Barrier
Reef.
currents greatly affect the climate in many parts of the world.
Surface
currents create cooler climates in coastal areas that would be much warmer (San Francisco).
Cold-water
is the distance between two adjust crests or troughs.
A wavelength
currents in the Northern Hemisphere turn clockwise while currents in the Southern Hemisphere turn counterclockwise.
Coriolis Effect
Speeds in the core of the EAC are among the strongest in the South Pacific,
up to 4.5 mph an hour.
currents create warmer climates in coastal areas that would otherwise be much cooler
Warm-water
Deep currents are mainly controlled by
increases in water density.
are waves that require a medium
Mechanical waves