1. OCEAN CURRENTS
Chapter 14

2. Surface currents Caused by: Wind Coriolis effect shape of continents
Gyre- rotation of surface current

3. Wind belts

4. North Atlantic Gyre Most gyres are made Of 4 currents Gulf stream
N. Atlantic
Canary
N. Equatorial

5. Columbus’s voyage Which currents did he use?
Which direction took longer?

6. North Pacific Gyre “Garbage patch” 3 million tons Mainly plastic
“Garbage patch”
3 million tons
Mainly plastic
Twice size of Texas

7. Surface currents Heat flows from hot to cold Equator to poles
Moderates global climate

8. Gulf Stream
Warm current
Intensifies
Hurricane strength

9. Do you see a problem?

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

11. Currents regulate Earth’s climate

13. Scenerio
In May 1999 , 21 deck containers of Nike tennis shoes were lost overboard during a storm. This happened off the coast of Korea.
Where would you expect these shoes to wash up? Which current would take them to their final destination?

14. NIKE CURRENT PATH