Ocean Movement It all begins with the sun

Ocean Movement It all begins with the sun……

Uneven Heating of the Earth The Earth's major source of energy is the Sun. The Earth is constantly receiving solar energy, but different areas of Earth receive different amounts of solar energy. This affects weather and climate.

Different areas of the Earth receive different amounts of sunlight.

The equator receives the most sunlight because the Sun is closer to being directly overhead year-round than it is at any other place on the Earth. This increases the amount of heat energy received and explains why areas near the equator have tropical climates.

The poles receive the least sunlight, which is why they have cold climates.

The solar energy received by the Earth causes ocean currents, winds, and climate differences.

OCEAN CURRENTS The uneven heating of the Earth's surface creates energy flow. Winds and ocean currents flow from warmer areas to colder areas, which means that they travel from the equator toward the poles.

This means that coastal land temperatures don’t fluctuate (go up and down) extremely (a lot) because the ocean water nearby doesn’t fluctuate much.

Major Ocean Currents An Ocean Current is a large volume of water flowing in a certain direction. Wind-driven currents are called surface currents. Surface currents carry warm or cold water horizontally across the ocean’s surface

Major Ocean Currents Surface currents extend to about 400 m below the surface, and they move as fast as 100 km/day. Earth’s major wind belts, called prevailing winds, influence the formation of ocean currents and the direction they move.

Rip Currents A rip current is a narrow, powerful surface current which flows away from the shore. It is caused by pressure building up from uneven buildup of water from waves. They can flow very quickly and can be difficult to detect until you are in one.

Rip Currents are Dangerous! Rip currents are responsible for about 150 deaths every year in the United States. About 80 percent of all beach rescues are related to rip currents. Rip currents don’t pull swimmers under, they flow out for several miles. If you get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current.

Because water has a much higher heat capacity (absorbs and lets go of heat more) slowly than land, water temperature will increase and decrease less than land temperature. For example, during daytime, land temperatures might change by tens of degrees, while water temperature change by less than half a degree.

Upwelling Causes cold, nutrient rich water from the deep ocean to rise to the surface.

Upwelling is the vertical movement of water toward the ocean’s surface. Upwelling occurs when wind blows across the ocean’s surface and pushes water away from an area. Deeper colder water then rises to replace it. Upwelling often occurs along coastlines. Upwelling brings cold, nutrientrich water from deep in the ocean to the ocean’s surface.

El Nino and La Nina El Nino is a change in water temperature in the Pacific ocean that produces a warm current. La Nina is a change in temperature in the Eastern Pacific that causes surface water temperature to be much colder than usual

BOTH El nino and La Nina can cause flooding (too much rain) and drought (too little rain) in different places on Earth. Upwelling does not occur where it normally would and this affects fish and sealife.

Coriolis Effect Because of the coriolis effect, winds appear to deflected to the east or west depending on the direction winds are traveling.

Coriolis Effect The Coriolis Effect is the movement of wind and water to the right or left that is caused by Earth’s rotation. It causes fluids such as air and water to curve to the right in the Northern hemisphere, in a clockwise direction. The Coriolis effect also cases fluids to curve to the left in the southern hemisphere, in a counterclockwise direction.

Coriolis Effect The shapes of continents and other land masses affect the flow and speed of currents. Currents form small or large loops and move at different speeds, depending on the land masses they contact.

A buoy records data about surface ocean temperature and transmits (sends) the information to a satellite in space that then transmits(sends) the information to scientists.

Density Currents are a type of vertical current that carries water from the surface to deeper parts of the ocean. Density Currents are caused by changes in density rather than wind. Density currents circulate thermal energy, nutrients and gases.

Impacts of Weather and Climate Warm-water currents and cold-water currents affect weather and climate in different ways Regions near warmwater currents are often warmer and wetter than regions near coldwater currents

Impacts on Weather and Climate The Gulf Stream is a warm-water current that affects coastal areas of the southwestern United States by transferring lots of thermal energy and moisture to the surrounding air. The cold California Current affects coastal areas of the southwestern United States.

Great Ocean Conveyor Belt The Great Ocean conveyor Belt is the name for a model of the large system of ocean currents that affects weather and climate by circulating thermal energy around Earth. In this model, high salinity water cools and sinks in the North Atlantic, and deep water returns to the surface in the Indian and Pacific Oceans through upwelling

Great Ocean Conveyor Belt Scientists estimate that the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt model takes about 1, 000 years to complete a cycle.

Wave crest trough Two parts of a wave Crest: highest part of a wave Trough: lowest part of a wave

Surface ocean currents are primarily formed by _______. A. winds B. tides C. aquatic organisms D. underwater volcanoes

Surface ocean currents are primarily formed by _______. A. winds

Regions at different latitudes around the world receive different amounts of solar radiation. Polar regions receive the least amount of solar radiation, while the equator receives the most. How does this most likely affect the global climate? A. polar regions experience colder climates B. the global climate is mostly cold C. the global climate is mostly warm D. equatorial regions experience colder climates

Regions at different latitudes around the world receive different amounts of solar radiation. Polar regions receive the least amount of solar radiation, while the equator receives the most. How does this most likely affect the global climate? Answer: A. polar regions experience colder climates

Currents caused by differences in water density are most often the result of A. differences in salinity and wind. B. differences in temperature and salinity. C. uniform temperature and salinity. D. uniform salinity and wind.

Currents caused by differences in water density are most often the result of Answer: B. differences in temperature and salinity.

Seasonal changes in water temperature tend to remain within a narrow range. This is opposed to air temperature, which tends to fluctuate across a wide range. The relative stability of ocean temperatures helps to regulate the temperatures of coastal regions. Why can water remain within a narrow range of temperatures? A. It has a high heat capacity. B. It is mobile and this allows heated water to sink. C. It reflects heat and does not absorb heat. D. It is only stable within a small temperature range.

Seasonal changes in water temperature tend to remain within a narrow range. This is opposed to air temperature, which tends to fluctuate across a wide range. The relative stability of ocean temperatures helps to regulate the temperatures of coastal regions. Why can water remain within a narrow range of temperatures? A. It has a high heat capacity.

Convection currents, resulting from uneven heating of the Earth's surface, cause _____ to form. A. wind B. mountains C. volcanoes D. fossils

Convection currents, resulting from uneven heating of the Earth's surface, cause _____ to form. A. wind

Ocean currents and global wind patterns, which are caused by convection currents, most strongly affect a region's. . . A. latitude. B. population size. C. day length. D. climate.

Ocean currents and global wind patterns, which are caused by convection currents, most strongly affect a region's. . . Answer: D. climate.

Water is cooler near the poles and warmer near the equator. Movement of cooler and warmer water from these regions moderates the global climate. Which of the following describes the movement of water between the poles and the equator? A. tides B. ocean currents C. evaporation D. gravity

Water is cooler near the poles and warmer near the equator. Movement of cooler and warmer water from these regions moderates the global climate. Which of the following describes the movement of water between the poles and the equator? Answer: B. ocean currents

Which property of oceans best explains why they have a major effect on climate? A. They contain large amounts of dissolved salt. B. They have a constant tidal movement. C. They absorb gases from the atmosphere. D. They hold a large amount of heat energy.

Which property of oceans best explains why they have a major effect on climate? Answer: D. They hold a large amount of heat energy.

The circulation of water in the ocean due to differences in density between the different layers of water is mostly responsible for A. the ebb and flow of the tides. B. the eruption of underwater volcanoes. C. deep water ocean currents. D. all of these

The circulation of water in the ocean due to differences in density between the different layers of water is mostly responsible for Answer: C. deep water ocean currents.

Convection currents, which affect weather and climate, are created by. . . A. slow, constant tectonic movement. B. erosion of ocean beaches. C. mining of the seafloor. D. the uneven heating of the Earth.

Convection currents, which affect weather and climate, are created by. . . Answer: D. the uneven heating of the Earth.

How do warm water currents like the gulf current affect the climate of the British Isles? A. Has no effect B. The gulf current creates a warm climate in the British Isles C. The gulf current creates a cold climate In the British Isles

How do warm water currents like the gulf current affect the climate of the British Isles? Answer: A. The gulf current creates a warm climate in the British Isles