1. 13.1 Teacher Notes Ocean Currents

2. Waves are on the surface of water Currents are below the surface
What is the difference between a current and a wave?
Waves are on the surface of water
(i.e. - ocean waves at a beach)
Currents are below the surface
(i.e. – EAC – East Australian Current)

3. surface currents – currents near the surface of the ocean (warm and/or cold currents)
3 things can change the direction of surface currents:
continental deflections – currents change direction because they hit a continent
global winds – global winds can blow a current a different direction
Coriolis effect – the Earth rotating changes the direction of winds and currents (they do not go straight because the Earth is turning in circles)
(i.e. – throwing a ball onto a spinning merry-go-round)

4. deep currents – currents far below the surface of the ocean (all cold currents)
Deep currents travel along the ocean floor
convection currents – heat rises, cool sinks (cool sinks because it is denser – heavier)
Surface currents and deep currents are linked in the ocean, they switch places due to a difference in temperature
The surface currents are warm because of heat from the sun
The deep currents are cold because they are so far away from the sun