Ocean Currents

Unit Standards 5.E.3B.2 Develop and use models to explain the effect of the movement of ocean water (including waves, currents, and tides) on the ocean shore zone (including beaches, barrier islands, estuaries, and inlets). 5.E.3B.3 Construct scientific arguments to support claims that human activities (such as conservation efforts or pollution) affect the land and oceans of Earth. 5.E.3B.4 Define problems caused by natural processes or human activities and test possible solutions to reduce the impact on landforms and the ocean shore zone.

What are ocean currents? Current- an ongoing movement of ocean water

What are ocean currents? The Gulf Stream is one of many ocean currents that circulate water around Earth. The Gulf Stream carries warm water from the equator toward the poles.

What are ocean currents? Other currents, such as the California Current, carry cold water from the poles toward the equator.

What are ocean currents? Because the water in a current can be warm or cold, currents also transfer heat from one place to another. The heat that they transfer affects the weather and climate of the nearby land.

What are ocean currents? The warm water in the Gulf Stream causes mild temperatures in the British Isles.

What are ocean currents? Oceans currents move heat around the world in the oceans. They also move heat around in the world in the atmosphere through the water vapor.

What are ocean currents? Heat energy from sunlight causes water vapor to evaporate from warm ocean currents around the equator. Global winds carry the water vapor to cooler regions away from the equator. As it is moved to cooler regions, the water vapor condenses.

What are ocean currents? Condensation is the opposite of evaporation. Heat is released into atmosphere as water vapor condenses.

What are ocean currents? The transfer of heat around the world through the atmosphere and through the water is an important way that oceans keep temperatures on Earth within a narrow range.

What are ocean currents? Scientists track ocean currents by following items that are lost from cargo ships. One cargo loss that they tracked was a shipment of 29,000 bathtub toys.

What are ocean currents? The toys were lost off the coast of Alaska.

What are ocean currents? About six months later, they began showing up along the coasts of Alaska and Washington. Scientists are still following toys to see if they will be carried by ocean currents along the coast of California and out to Hawaii.