influenced by: weather/wind positions of the continents rotation of the earth sun, salinity, density
TRANSCRIPT
Ocean Currents Influenced by:•Weather/Wind• Positions of the continents• Rotation of the Earth• Sun, Salinity, Density
Surface Current
•Streams of ocean water moving at the surface•Can stretch for hundreds of miles•Controlled by winds, Coriolis Effect and land masses
Deep Currents • Controlled by temperature and density of water• More when cold and higher salinity (amount of salt in the water)• Flow deep, under the surface currents
Global Winds •Caused by uneven heating of the Earth by the Sun•Wind patterns cause friction against the water which pushes it
Coriolis Effect • Earth’s rotation causes winds and currents to move in curved paths instead of straight lines
Currents and Climate
•Warm currents create warmer climates in coastal areas
•Cold currents create cooler climates in coastal areas
Jet Stream •High altitude winds that can steer weather systems•Do not follow regular paths around the Earth