1. Currents

2. Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are a movement of ocean water that follows a regular pattern. There are two types of currents: surface currents and deep (density) currents.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should present the information on the slide while the students record the important information on their notes.

3. Ocean Currents: Surface Currents
Surface currents move water horizontally – parallel to Earth’s surface
Surface currents are powered by wind
The wind forces the ocean to move in huge, circular patterns
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should present the information on the slide while the students record the important information on their notes.

4. Three Factors that affect Surface Currents
Global Winds
Winds blow across the Earth’s surface
Winds blow water east to west at the equator
Winds blow water west to east closer to the poles

5. 2. Coriolis Effect
The curving path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to Earth’s position
Southern Hemisphere – currents turn counter-clockwise
Northern Hemisphere – currents turn clockwise

6. 3. Continental Deflection
When surface currents meet continents, the currents deflect, or change direction

7. Ocean Currents: Surface Currents
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the diagram to illustrate surface currents.

8. Temperature Affects Surface Currents
Warm-water currents begin near the equator and carry warm water to the other parts of the ocean
Cold-water currents begin closer to the poles and carry cool water to other parts of the ocean.

9. Surface Currents Notice again the Red arrows and the Blue arrows showing the movement of warm water and the movement of cold water
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the diagram to illustrate the concept of surface currents (warm and cold water)

10. Deep (density) Currents
Deep currents are a stream like movement of ocean water far below the surface.
Deep in the ocean, waters circulate not because of wind but because of density differences.
A density current forms when a mass of seawater becomes more dense (density increases) than the surrounding water.
More dense seawater sinks beneath less dense seawater.
Density currents circulate ocean water slowly.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should present the information on the slide while the students record the important information on their notes.

11. Density is affected by temperature and salinity.
Ocean depth increases
Density increases
Temperature increases
Salinity increases
Salinity increases
Density increases
Temperature decreases
Density decreases
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should review the information on the slide while the students record the important information on their notes.
Temperature decreases
because cold water is more dense and sinks

12. Density Currents
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the diagram to illustrate density currents.

13. Surface currents carry warm water to polar regions.
Warm water replaces cold water that sinks to the ocean floor.
Deep currents carry cold water along the ocean floor from polar regions.
Water from deep currents rises to replace water leaving surface currents.
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should use the diagram to illustrate surface currents and density currents.

15. Waves & Currents Video
Instructional Approach(s): The teacher should show the video to reinforce the concept of waves and currents