OCEAN CURRENTS AND CLIMATE Ocean current - permanent or semi-permanent horizontal movement of surface water (the top 100m). Caused by:  prevailing winds  size and shape of ocean body they develop in (Gulf Stream)  temperature and density of water  coriolis force Complete questions # 27, 28, 29 and 30 on page 69.

Major World Ocean Currents

Affect of cold ocean currents:  Cools the summer temperature.  Reduces precipitation - cooler air holds less moisture. Affect of warm ocean currents:  Warms the winter temperature.  Increases precipitation - warmer air holds more moisture.

Practical Examples – How is each location affected by ocean currents? Cool summer temperatures Surprising little precipitation despite being a coastal area

Warm moist air brings high precipitation

Explain why Cape Town, South Africa might have similar fog conditions as St. John’s NF? Warm and cold currents meet – the warm air rises above and condenses into fog.

Australia has a fair amount of desert. Which coast would you expect it to be on, east or west? West – colder ocean current – colder air – less precipitation.