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Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents. Ocean Currents. An ocean current is a large amount of ocean water that moves in a particular unchanging direction. There are more than 20 major ocean currents. Currents can be warm or cold, depending on their origin. http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/asset/ttv10_vid_currents/.

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Ocean Currents

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  1. Ocean Currents

  2. Ocean Currents • An ocean current is a large amount of ocean water that moves in a particular unchanging direction. • There are more than 20 major ocean currents. • Currents can be warm or cold, depending on their origin.

  3. http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/asset/ttv10_vid_currents/

  4. Two types of ocean currents • surface currents(extend to an average depth of 200m). • Thermohaline currents(occur deeper than 200m).

  5. Surface Currents • These are caused by: • wind action • the Earth’s spin (Coriolis Effect) • shape of the continents

  6. Wind Action • As air moves over the ocean’s surface, its energy is transferred by friction to the water molecules, causing the ocean water to move.

  7. Earth’s spin (Coriolis Effect) • Earth spins from west to east (counter-clockwise), as winds and currents move over this spinning body, their paths get re-directed depending on what side of the equator they are on. • As a result: • clockwise pattern in the northern hemisphere • counter-clockwise pattern in the southern hemisphere. • CoriolisEffect: http://video.mit.edu/watch/the-coriolis-effect-4407/

  8. Coriolis Effect Demo

  9. Shape of Continents • Moving currents are forced to turn when they meet a solid surface.

  10. Gyres • The currents in oceans appear to move in a circular pattern called gyres. The right side of gyres has cool water and the left side holds warm water (both affect weather on the land).

  11. Wind-driven surface currents Figure 7-4

  12. Antarctic surface circulation

  13. Atlantic Ocean surface currents

  14. The Gulf Stream and sea surface temperatures • The Gulf Stream is a warm, western intensified current • Meanders as it moves into the North Atlantic • Creates warm and cold core rings Figure 7-16

  15. Pacific Ocean surface currents Figure 7-17

  16. Indian Ocean surface currents Northeast monsoon Southwest monsoon

  17. Plastics in Our Ocean The great pacific garbage patch: • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qvf_zesN9Y • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azwKxDVGmns • Solutions  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljrbtYlku-k

  18. Surface Current Assignment • Rubber Ducks and Nike Shoes… • Complete the Nike Shoe Investigation

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