1. Ocean Currents Chapter 16.1

2. Ocean Currents – masses of ocean water that flow from one place to another.

3. There are 2 kinds of currents…

4. Surface currents: flow horizontally in upper part of ocean
First kind of current:
Surface currents: flow horizontally in upper part of ocean
Most are caused by wind
Friction between wind blown air and the water surface causes the water to move
Controlled by wind belts, earth’s rotational effect and location of continents

10. Surface Currents

11. What direction do most currents NORTH of the equator move?

12. CLOCKWISE!

13. What direction do most currents SOUTH of the equator move?

14. COUNTERCLOCKWISE!

15. Gyre – huge circular-moving current systems that dominate the surface of the oceans
Five Major Ocean Gyres
1. North Pacific Gyre
South Pacific Gyre
North Atlantic Gyre
South Atlantic Gyre
Indian Ocean Gyre

16. Western side of ocean has warm currents traveling from equator
Eastern side of ocean has cool currents moving toward equator

17. Examples of warm water currents:
Gulf Stream
Brazil
Kuroshio

18. Examples of cold water currents:
California current
Canary current
Labrador current

20. Upwelling – the rising of cold water from deeper layers to replace warmer surface water.
Brings greater concentrations of dissolved nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphates of the ocean surface

21. Second kind of current:
2. Deep density currents: vertical currents of ocean water that result from density differences
Occurs when denser seawater moves towards an area of less dense seawater

22. In the deep ocean, denser water around the Poles sinks and travels along the ocean floor toward the equator.
At the same time, less dense water at the equator rises and moves towards the poles along the surface.
These two events form a continuous cycle that circulate ocean water.