Ocean Currents Ocean Currents Mass movement or flow

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Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents • Mass movement or flow of ocean water • River within the

Ocean Currents • Mass movement or flow of ocean water • River within the ocean (“Conveyor Belt”) • Two types • Surface • Deep (or Subsurface)

Ocean Currents Vocabulary Gyre: Nearly closed current system in the open ocean • Clockwise

Ocean Currents Vocabulary Gyre: Nearly closed current system in the open ocean • Clockwise pattern in N. Hemisphere • Counter-clockwise pattern in S. Hemisphere

Ocean Currents Vocabulary Continued… • Meander – Bend in a current’s flow • Ring

Ocean Currents Vocabulary Continued… • Meander – Bend in a current’s flow • Ring – Large, whirllike pattern (when a meander is cut off) • Eddy – Small current Ring

Surface Current Link • Horizontal, stream-like movements of water that occur at or near

Surface Current Link • Horizontal, stream-like movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean • Can reach depths of several hundred meters

Surface Currents continued… • Controlled by three factors – Global winds – Coriolis Effect

Surface Currents continued… • Controlled by three factors – Global winds – Coriolis Effect – Continental Deflections

Surface Currents continued… • Global Winds – Cause surface currents to flow in the

Surface Currents continued… • Global Winds – Cause surface currents to flow in the direction the wind is blowing • Coriolis Effect Link – Apparent curving of moving objects (ie- Water) due to the Earth’s rotation

Surface Currents continued… • Coriolis Effect – Northern Hemisphere = clockwise – Southern Hemisphere

Surface Currents continued… • Coriolis Effect – Northern Hemisphere = clockwise – Southern Hemisphere = counter clockwise • Continental Deflections – Shape of continents change the direction of current flow

Deep Currents • Stream like movement of ocean water far below the surface •

Deep Currents • Stream like movement of ocean water far below the surface • Caused by changes in density – Change in temperature – Change in salinity

Deep Currents continued… • Change in temperature – Decreasing the temperature of water increases

Deep Currents continued… • Change in temperature – Decreasing the temperature of water increases density • Change in salinity – Increasing the salinity of water increases density

Surface currents and climate • Warm water currents – On the east coasts of

Surface currents and climate • Warm water currents – On the east coasts of continents – Bring warm water to colder regions

Surface currents and climate • Cold water currents – On the west coasts of

Surface currents and climate • Cold water currents – On the west coasts of continents – Bring cold water to warmer regions

Upwelling Link • The movement of deep, cold, nutrient rich water to the surface

Upwelling Link • The movement of deep, cold, nutrient rich water to the surface • Nutrients promote growth of fish and plants • Areas are important fishing grounds

Downwelling • The movement of warm surface waters towards the coast • Causes a

Downwelling • The movement of warm surface waters towards the coast • Causes a thickening of the surface waters which causes them to sink

Causes of warm and cold currents • El Niño –Change in the water temperature

Causes of warm and cold currents • El Niño –Change in the water temperature in the Pacific Ocean that produces a warm current

Causes of warm and cold currents • La Niña –Change in the eastern Pacific

Causes of warm and cold currents • La Niña –Change in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surface water temperature becomes unusually cool

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