Ocean Motion

currents

Ocean currents are movements of ocean water that follow a regular

pattern.

There are 3 different types of currents:

currents

Surface currents are a horizontal movement of ocean water caused by

wind and occurs near the ocean’s surface.

currents

Surface currents are controlled by 3 factors:

currentsGlobal winds

Coriolis Effect

Continental deflections

Winds that blow across Earth’s surface

Curving of moving objects from a straight line because

of Earth’s rotation

When currents change directions because they

bump into the continents.

currents

Warm water currents begin near the equator and carry warm water to the

rest of the ocean. Cold water currents begin near the poles and carry cold water to the rest of the

ocean.

currents

The next type of current is…

currents

Deep (density) currents are a streamlike movement of

ocean water far below the surface.

currents

Deep (density) currents are not controlled by the wind

like surface currents.

currents

Deep (density) currents form where water density

increases.

currents

Temperature

Salinity

currents

The last type of current is…

currents

Upwelling is the movement of deep, cold, nutrient-rich water to the

surface.

currents

They bring nutrients to the surface that

supports the growth of plankton.

currents

El Nino is the periodic change in the location of

warm & cool surface waters in the Pacific

Ocean

currents

By experiencing unusual weather patterns that can cause disasters such as flash floods & mudslides.

WAVES

A wave has 4 parts…

WAVES

Crest Highest point of the wave

Trough Lowest point of the wave

Wavelength Horizontal distance between two crests or troughs

Waveheight Vertical distance between crest & trough

WAVES

Crest

Trough

wavelength

waveheight

WAVES

Frequency The

number of waves that pass a fixed

point in a given

amount of time.

Amplitude is the measure of a wave’s energy.

WAVESMost waves are formed by wind.

This causes energy to move through the water.

tides

A tide is the daily change in the level of the ocean water.

tides

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun &

moon.

tidesThe moon’s pull is strongest on

the part of the Earth directly facing the moon.

tidesTidal range is the difference

between levels of ocean water at high tide and low tides.

What is the tidal range of an area if the high tide is 20 ft. and the low tide is 15

ft.?20

-15

5

tides

At certain times in the month, there are 2 special types of

tides…

tidesA spring tide is a tide of

increased range that occurs 2 times a month, at new & full

moons.

tides

SUN

MOONEARTH

tidesA neap tide is a tide of minimum range that occurs during the 1st &

3rd quarters of the moon.

tides

SUN

MOON

EARTH

tidesThe Bay of Fundy has the greatest tidal

range in the world.