Ocean Surface Currents (Slides 1 & 2)
streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean are
surface currents
How is the east Australian different than the movie?
The real east Australian current is much bigger and wilder
When currents meet landforms, they change direction. This is known as ______
continental deflection.
Deep currents are mainly controlled by ___ in water density
increases
A ____ is the distance between two adjust crests or troughs. Wave height is the vertical distance between a waves crest and its trough.
wavelength
25
he East Australian Current transports a staggering _____of water southward each second
40 million cubic meters
Warm water currents begin near the ____
equator
Ocean water gets ___ when it becomes saltier or gets colder.
denser
Mechanical waves are waves that require a _____.
medium
Surface Currents are controlled by how many number of factors?
4
How wide is the east Australian current?
100 km wide
Do surface currents affect climate in parts of the world?
yes
the denser water moves along __
the ocean floor
a wave is defined as a transfer of ___.
energy
Global winds blowing across the Earth's surface create ___
surface currents
Where does the east Australian current flow along?
The east coast of austalia.
If Earth's surface were covered only with water, currents would travel in a __ __ across the Earth,
fixed pattern
Starting at a depth of about _____, the water temperature becomes colder as the depth increases.
200 meters
Wave height is the ____ distance between a waves crest and its trough.
vertical
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, up to ___________
4.5 mph an hour.
Some surface currents warm and some cool coastal areas ___
year-round.
___ ____are stream-like movements of ocean water far below the ocean surface.
Deep currents
Waves move in a ____ pattern.
circular