An ocean current is any permanent or continuous, directed movement of ocean water that flows in one...
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Transcript of An ocean current is any permanent or continuous, directed movement of ocean water that flows in one...
An ocean current is any permanent or continuous, directed movement of ocean water that flows in one of the Earth's oceans.
Ocean Currents
2 major types
Surface
Driven by: Wind
Speed: Fast mostly
Depth: Approx. <100 m
Deep
Driven by: Differences in
Density=m/v
Speed: SLOW always
Depth: >100 m
Prevailing winds: Initial push Westerlies= west to east Trade winds= East to equator
Caused by…
Uneven heating Water near equator warms due to direct sunlight Transfers heat to poles by CONVECTION
Major causes of ocean currents
Coriolis Effect: deflection of moving objects
North= Right (clockwise) South= Left (counter clockwise)
Basin Shape: Coastline AKA the toilet bowl
Major causes of ocean currents
Ocean currents are the result of ALL of the following, except:
A. prevailing wind beltsB. the shape of the ocean basinC. Coriolis forceD. shifting tectonic plates
Review
Boundary Current
Warm
Gulf Stream Brazil Kuroshio Agulhas E. Australia
Cold/Cool
Benguela Peru Canary Greenland & Labrador W. Australia
ReviewThe Coriolis effect causes which oceanic circulation pattern in
the Northern hemisphere shown below:
Vertical mixing of water
Changes in water temperature
Surface is warmer
Thermohaline circulation
deep ocean currents caused by: differences in density. Salinity
Increase salt=more dense
Temperature Decrease temperature= more
dense
Salinity
INCREASES (salt concentration goes up)
Evaporation Ice formation
Decreases(salt concentration goes down)
Fresh water goes in Rain Surface runoff
Ice Melts
Which of the following factors increases the density and salinity in oceans?
A. river runoff into oceansB. precipitation over oceansC. icebergs melting into oceansD. evaporation of seawater
Review
Normal conditions: Wind direction:
Dominated by the trade winds (East towards Equator)
Current direction: (strong cold current towards equator)
E. Pacific water temps : Cool
Effects: N. America normal warm summer/cool winter Cooler water of South American coast Australia warmer water
Ocean-Atmosphere Patterns
El Nino Conditions:
Wind direction: Trade winds are weak or reversed (West towards Equator)
Current direction: (Weak towards equator)
E. Pacific water temps : Warm
Effects: N. America Warmer winters Floods in South America Droughts in Australia
Ocean-Atmosphere Patterns
la Nina conditions: Wind direction: VERY strong trade winds (East towards Equator)
Current direction: (Strong cold towards equator)
E. Pacific water temps : Very Cold
Effects: MUCH Cooler water of South American coast
Australia MUCH warmer water
US colder than normal winters with much more snow!
Ocean-Atmosphere Patterns