Ocean Motion
description
Transcript of Ocean Motion
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.