1. Higher Atmosphere Ocean Currents [Date] Today I will:
Know what Oceans Currents are
Be able to explain how they re-distribute energy across the globe

2. Higher Higher Atmosphere Atmosphere
If the earth continually received too much insolation at the tropics and too little insolation at the poles the tropics would overheat and the poles would get colder and colder. Rather, ocean currents redistribute the energy around the world.
The process of ocean currents re-distributing the energy is called oceanic circulation.

3. Higher
Atmosphere
Higher
Atmosphere

4. Higher Atmosphere Oceans: - Average depth: 12,400m - Very dark
- Highly pressurised

5. Higher
Atmosphere
Higher
Atmosphere

6. Higher Higher Atmosphere Atmosphere
Warm water is transferred from the tropics
Cold water is transferred from the poles

7. Higher
Atmosphere
Higher
Atmosphere

8. Higher
Atmosphere
Higher
Atmosphere

9. Higher
Atmosphere
Higher
Atmosphere

10. Continents deflect the currents to create gyres.
Higher
Atmosphere
Higher
Atmosphere
Continents deflect the currents to create gyres.
The coriolis force deflects the ocean currents clockwise in the north and anti-clockwise in the south

11. Explain how the Oceans help re-distribute energy across the globe:
Higher
Atmosphere
Higher
Atmosphere
Neatly mark the currents onto your map of the world. Annotate it fully.
Explain how the Oceans help re-distribute energy across the globe:
In the Northern Hemisphere a clockwise loop or gyre is formed – with warm water from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift) travelling northwards and colder water moving southwards eg the Canaries Current.
In addition cold water moves southwards from Polar latitudes – the Labrador Current. This movement of warm and cold water thus helps to maintain the energy balance.