Currents

13) Ocean currents can be caused by factors such as wind, salinity, temperature, the Coriolis Effect, and gravitational pull.

14)Ocean currents flow in predictable patterns around the earth.

15) Differences in density and temperature causes currents.

16)Surface currents are the currents on the surface of the water (within 200 meters of surface)

17) Surface currents are formed by wind, uneven heating of surface of Earth, and the rotation (spinning) of the Earth.

18) List three factors that control surface current. global surface winds continental deflection rotation of the earth (Coriolis Effect)

19) Surface currents alter an area’s climate 19) Surface currents alter an area’s climate. The heat from the ocean transfers to the adjoining continents.

20) Deep currents are water moving below 200 meters of the surface.

21) Deep currents are formed by differences in water density.

22) Deep Currents - An increase in salt increases density and causes water to sink.

23) Deep Currents - Colder water at the poles increases ocean density causing water to sink.

24) Deep Currents - Warmer water at the equator flows towards pole and this creates the deep currents.

25) Down welling is the movement of water from the surface to greater depths

26) Upwelling is the vertical movement of deep water up to the surface.

27) The Gulfstream is the warm ocean current flowing from the Equator along the East Coast of the United States (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, New York) to England.

28) What is the Coriolis Effect? Curving ocean currents.

29) How is the Coriolis Effect formed? Earth’s rotation.

30) The Coriolis Effect deflects moving objects to the right (clockwise) in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left (counter clockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere.

31) Coriolis Effect is important in the formation of weather systems like hurricanes and cyclones.

32) Ocean water often changes direction when it meets a land mass 32) Ocean water often changes direction when it meets a land mass. This is called Continental Deflection.

33) El Nino is warm water flowing from the Southwest Pacific towards South America and then continental deflection forces the warm water to flow north along the coast of Mexico and the U.S.A.

34) El Nino causes warmer climate on the western coast of South and North America.