1. OCEAN CURRENTS

2. 1.01 What causes currents?

3. 1.01What causes currents? Prevaling Winds:
winds that blow from a single general direction over a particular point on the Earth's surface.
Examples:
Westerlies
Trade Winds

4. Wind belts

5. 1.01 What causes currents? Changes in Water Temperature:
Cold water sinks, warm water rises. This creates a movement of water based on radiation from the sun.

6. 1.01 What causes currents? Coriolis Effect
Deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth’s rotation

7. 1.01 What causes currents? Changes in Salinity
Saline water (salty water) becomes more dense and sinks. Causes deep water currents.

8. 1.01 What causes currents? Uneven Heating
Differences in solar radiation from the sun causes ocean water to heat at different intensities, causes the rising and sinking of water.
WARM water expands and rises
COLD water contracts and sinks

9. 1.01 What causes currents? Basin Shape
The continents form a barrier which causes ocean water to be deflected and divided.

10. 1.02 Label major surface currents
HOMEWORK
Use your book p. 429 to do this!

11. Currents regulate Earth’s climate

13. 1.03 Ocean Terms:
Gyre: large system of rotating ocean currents, involved with large wind movements.
Boundary Current: ocean currents with dynamics determined by the presence of a coastline.
Western + Eastern

14. Ocean Gyres

15. Deep Currents
Thermohaline circulation- caused by density and temp. difference
Salty water sinks; cold water sinks
Global conveyor belt

18. Gulf Stream