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Ocean Currents: Drivers and Impacts

Explore the processes that drive ocean currents, including density variations, wind, and the Coriolis Effect. Learn about surface and deep currents, tides, and their impact on climate and coastal areas. Critical thinking questions deepen understanding.

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Ocean Currents: Drivers and Impacts

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  1. Warm Up • Name 2 processes that drive ocean currents.

  2. Ocean Currents

  3. Movement of Ocean Water • Oceans are always in constant movement caused by: • Variations in Density • Wind

  4. Specific Heat of Water • Water has a high specific heat (4.184 J/g*C) • It takes a lot of energy to heat up water and cool it down

  5. Density Currents • Density Currents-Ocean Currents that move due to differences in density • Global Conveyor Belt

  6. Ocean Currents • Upwelling Currents – Occur when wind moves seawater at the surface and new water from below replaces it

  7. Critical Thinking #1 • How might upwelling currents be beneficial to life in the ocean? Explain.

  8. Coriolis Effect • Coriolis Effect-The rotation of the Earth results in wind blowing in a circular motion • Wind blows to the right in the Northern Hemisphere • Wind blows to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

  9. Gyres • Gyres are large circular current systems that flow from north to south and are caused by the Coriolis Effect • 5 major gyres: • 2 in the Pacific Ocean • 2 in the Atlantic Ocean • 1 in the Indian Ocean

  10. Surface Currents • Surface Currents are currents that affect the upper most portions of the surface • Surface Currents that flow towards the equator generally bring cold water • Surface Currents that flow away from the equator generally bring warm water

  11. Ocean Currents • Deep Currents – Move slowly beneath surface, primarily caused by differing water densities

  12. Critical Thinking #2 • What processes might cause changes in density that form deep ocean currents?

  13. Climate Impact • Coastal Areas: Have a high amount of water vapor in the air. • Summer will be cooler • Winters will be warmer

  14. Climate Impact • In cities located further from the coast there is less water vapor in the air • Summers will be very hot • Winters will be very cold

  15. Tides • Tides – Daily changes in the level of the ocean surface • 2 high tides and 2 low tides each day • caused by gravitational pull of primarily the moon, but also the sun

  16. High Tides and Low Tides • High (Flood) Tides – Occur on side of Earth facing and opposite the moon, due to both gravity facing and centrifugal force opposite • Low (Ebb) Tides – Occur on sides halfway between the moon

  17. Spring Tides and Neap Tides • Spring Tides = Highest and lowest tides, when moon and sun align • Neap Tides = Small tidal range, when moon and sun are perpendicular

  18. Critical Thinking #3 • Why are spring tides stronger than neap tides? Explain.

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