Ocean Currents and Climate - Mrs. Logan...
Transcript of Ocean Currents and Climate - Mrs. Logan...
Ocean Currents and
Climate
Ocean water contains streamlike movements of
water called ocean currents. Currents are influenced by a number of factors, including weather, the Earth's rotation,
and the position of the continents.
There are twotypes of ocean
currents:
Surface Currents:Horizontal, streamlike
movements of water that occur at or near the
surface of the ocean are called surface currents
Surface Currents:The Gulf Stream is one of
the longest surface currents.
Surface Currents:Surface currents are controlled by three
factors which keep surface currents flowing in
distinct patterns around the Earth.
Surface Currents:1. Global Winds - winds
that blow across the Earth's surface to create surface currents in the
ocean.
Surface Currents:Different winds cause
currents to flow in differentdirections. Near the equator, the winds blow ocean water
east to west, but closer to the poles, ocean water is blown
west to east.
Surface Currents:2. Coriolis Effect - The Earth's rotation causes
wind and surface currents to move in curved paths rather than in straight
lines.
Surface Currents:The Coriolis Effect causes
surface currents in the Northern Hemisphere to turn clockwise, and surface currents in the Southern Hemisphere
to turn counterclockwise.
Surface Currents:3. Continental deflections -When surface currents meet
continents, the currents deflect, or change direction.
Surface Currents and Climate
Surface currents greatly affect the climate in many parts of
the world. Some surface currents warm or cool coastal
areas year-round.
Surface Currents and Climate
Surface currents are affected by the
temperature of the water in which they form.
Surface Currents and Climate
Surface currents are classified as warm-water
or cold-water.
Surface Currents and Climate
1. Warm-water currents begin near the equator
and carry warm water to other parts of the ocean.
Surface Currents and Climate
2. Cold-water currents begin closer to the poles and carry cool water to
other parts of the ocean.
Quick Review:• Surface currents are on the surface of the Earth’s oceans.
• How many factors control surface currents? 3.
• List and explain all of the factors that control surface currents.
– Global winds: winds that blow across the Earth's surface
– Coriolis effect: The Earth's rotation causes wind and surface currents to move in curved paths rather than in straight lines
– Continental deflection: when surface currents meet continents, the currents deflect, or change direction
Deep Currents:Streamlike movements of
ocean water located far below the surface are called
deep currents.
Deep Currents:Deep currents are notdirectly controlled by
wind.Deep currents form in
parts of the ocean where water density increases.
Deep Currents:The density of ocean water is affected by
temperature and salinitySalinity is how much salt is
dissolved in the water.
Deep Currents:Decreasing the temperature
of ocean water and increasing the water's
salinity increase the water's density.
Quick Review:
• Deep currents are far beneath the Earth’s oceans.
• How many factors control deep currents? 2.
• List and explain all of the factors that control deep currents.
– Salinity
– Temperature
• The lower the temperature and the higher the salinity, the more dense the water is.
Deep Currents: -Deep under the surface-Factors are salinity and temperature
Surface Currents:-on the surface of the Earth’s oceans-Factors are global winds, Coriolis Effect, and continental deflection
Both:-Occur in the ocean