Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents are powered by Huge Spinning Gyres North Atlantic Gyre: Clockwise South Atlantic Gyre: Counter-Clockwise

Ocean Currents are powered by Huge Spinning Gyres: Gyres are actually huge spinning mounds of ocean water.

Ocean Currents are powered by 5 Huge Spinning Gyres North Pacific Gyre N. Atlantic Gyre South Pacific Gyre S. Atlantic Gyre Indian Gyre

Ocean Currents are powered by 5 Huge Spinning Gyres North Pacific Gyre N. Atlantic Gyre South Pacific Gyre S. Atlantic Gyre Indian Gyre

The World’s Major Ocean Currents

North America’s Major Ocean Currents – Pacific Coast

North America’s Major Ocean Currents – Atlantic Coast

The Gulf Stream is part of a larger circular system of currents circling the North Atlantic Gyre

Ben Franklin’s Map of the Gulf Stream

Modern Map of the Gulf Stream and Nearby Currents

Meanders in the Gulf Stream Satellite Map Gulf Stream Meanders

Meanders in the Gulf Stream Infrared Satellite Map (Yellow, Orange & Red are warm water.)

Cold Core and Warm Core Ring Eddies in the Gulf Stream (Plankton Map) (Blue and Green are warm water.)

Infrared Map Showing Warm Core (Yellow) and Cold Core Ring (Green) Eddies

Plankton Map Showing Warm Core Ring Eddies (Blue)

Plankton Map Baja California Showing: Good Fishin’ Here!!! Plankton Map Baja California Showing: Dense Plankton (Red) Moderate Plankton (Yellow) Fairly Clear Water (Green) Clear Blue Water (Dark Blue)

North Atlantic Current (Drift) - northern extension of the Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream is just part of the “Global Conveyor Belt” Click on picture to go to animated conveyor belt: deep water formation deep water formation warm water formation warm water formation deep current deep water formation

The “Global Conveyor Belt” – Another Look Click on picture to go to animated conveyor belt: deep water formation deep water formation warm water formation warm water formation deep current deep water formation

Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift NADW= North Atlantic Deep Water Current –carries cold water south

Alaska Greenland

What happens to the “Conveyor Belt” if the Greenland Ice Pack Melts?? Click on map to see movie:

Cross Section of a Warm Core Ring Eddy