Chapter 21 Section 1 Chapter 21 Section 1 HandoutHandout

Ocean CurrentsOcean Currents

11

• A horizontal movement of water in a A horizontal movement of water in a well-defined pattern is called a(n)well-defined pattern is called a(n)– currentcurrent

22

• What are two ways that What are two ways that oceanographers identify ocean oceanographers identify ocean currents?currents?– By Studying the physical and chemical By Studying the physical and chemical

characteristics of the ocean watercharacteristics of the ocean water– By mapping the path of debris that By mapping the path of debris that

comes from ships.comes from ships.

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• What are the two major categories of What are the two major categories of ocean currents?ocean currents?– deep currentsdeep currents– surface currentssurface currents

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• Currents that are driven by wind and Currents that are driven by wind and move horizontally on or near the move horizontally on or near the ocean’s surface are calledocean’s surface are called– surface currentssurface currents

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• The following factors control surface The following factors control surface currents?currents?– Air currentsAir currents– Location of the continentsLocation of the continents– Earth’s rotationEarth’s rotation

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• All surface currents are affected byAll surface currents are affected by– winds.winds.

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• Explain what causes winds to form.Explain what causes winds to form.– Uneven heating of the atmosphere.Uneven heating of the atmosphere.

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• How does wind make water on the How does wind make water on the ocean’s surface move?ocean’s surface move?– Kinetic energy is transferred from the air Kinetic energy is transferred from the air

to the ocean.to the ocean.

Numbers 22 - 32Numbers 22 - 32

A

BC

D EF

G

HI

J

K

J

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• A current that is uninterrupted by A current that is uninterrupted by any continents and crosses all three any continents and crosses all three major oceans is the major oceans is the __________________.__________________.– Antarctic Circompolar Current.Antarctic Circompolar Current.

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• Currents in the northern Indian Currents in the northern Indian Ocean are governed by _________, Ocean are governed by _________, which are winds whose direction which are winds whose direction change seasonally.change seasonally.– monsoonsmonsoons

3535

• The Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic The Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the Canary Current, and the Current, the Canary Current, and the North Equatorial Current form the North Equatorial Current form the ______.______.– North Atlantic Gyre.North Atlantic Gyre.

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• A vast are of calm, warm water at A vast are of calm, warm water at the center of the North Atlantic Gyre the center of the North Atlantic Gyre is called the ____________.is called the ____________.– Sargasso Sea.Sargasso Sea.

The EndThe End