1. Oceanography Ocean Currents
Chapter 24.1 and 24.2

2. There are 2 types of ocean currents
Surface Currents
Density Currents ( currents under the surface)

3. Surface Currents Wind is the driving force behind surface currents
**This should look REALLY familiar!
Click here to see how wind and surface currents are related!

4. Layers of the Ocean SURFACE CURRENTS Mixed Layer (2%) Temp Change
Deep waters
Density Currents

5. Surface Currents In the Northern Hemisphere, travel clockwise
In the Southern Hemisphere, travel counterclockwise
Like winds, this is due to the Coriolis Effect

6. Turn to page 533!

7. Global Surface Currents
p.532

8. Warm Ocean Currents Travel __________ the equator.
This transfers ______ from the _________to the _______
Example:
Creates the Sargasso Sea
AWAY FROM
ENERGY
EQUATOR
POLES
GULF STREAM

9. CANARY CURRENT (AFRICA)
Cold Ocean Currents
CANARY CURRENT (AFRICA)
CALIFORNIA CURRENT

10. Cold Ocean Currents Travel __________ the equator. Example:
TOWARDS
California Current: travels down the WEST side of the U.S.
Canary Current: travels down the WEST side of AFRICA

11. El Nino vs. Normal Conditions~
Normal Conditions:

12. El Nino vs. Normal Conditions~
El Nino:

14. Subsurface Currents
The driving force behind a subsurface current is _________________.
They are also known as ____________________________.
If water becomes denser it will ___________.
If it becomes less dense it will ___________.
density
density currents
sink
rise

16. Global Conveyor Belt

17. What are the ways (liquid)water becomes denser?
Cooling – molecules closer together
Evaporation – leaves salt behind
Freezing – leaves salt behind

18. Antarctic Bottom Water is created at the poles where freezing and cooling increase the salinity and the density of the water.

19. Mediterranean Sea (p538)
This density current is caused by evaporation instead of freezing and cooling.
Close to 30° latitude = Dry Air

20. Upwelling
As wind drives water away from the coast, deep cold waters replace it
This brings CO2 to the surface for phytoplankton to feed on
Click the picture to see the animation!

21. Global Conveyor Belt

22. Ocean Temperature Mixed Layer Thermocline Deep Water
Wind and waves mix heat evenly
Absorbs almost all of the sun’s light
Maximum depth usually 100 meters
Thermocline
Area where temperature drops rapidly
Maximum depth usually 1000 meters
Deep Water
Very cold water moving from poles to equator
Most dense water
Found beneath other ocean water in almost all ocean locations