Ocean Currents NOTES.notebook February 10, 2016 Ocean Current Ocean Currents stream Large _________________ of moving water that flows through the ocean. great Carries water over ______________ distances. Two types of currents: Surface • _____________________ Deep Water • _____________________ Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM Surface Currents global winds Driven by _______________ ______________ gyres Move in circular patterns called ______________ Surface Currents Five Gyres North Atlantic 1. ________________________________________ Coriolis Circular patterns a result of the __________________ South Atlantic 2. ________________________________________ Effect _______________ North Pacific 3. ________________________________________ Clockwise ______________________ in the Northern Hemisphere South Pacific 4. ________________________________________ Counterclockwise ______________________ in the Southern Hemisphere Indian Ocean 5. ________________________________________ Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM Surface Currents 4 Each gyre normally made up of _____________ currents Western Intensification western Center of gyre tends to favor the ______________ boundary Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM 1 Ocean Currents NOTES.notebook Western Intensification The western boundary of all gyres tend to be: Narrow _____________________________________ February 10, 2016 Western Intensification The eastern boundary of all gyres tend to be: (< 100 km) Wide (1000 km) _____________________________________ _____________________________________ (~2 km) Shallow (~0.5 km) _____________________________________ (100's of km/day) Fast _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Warm _____________________________________ Cool _____________________________________ Deep eastern Currents run along _______________ coasts of land Jan 271:19 PM Surface Currents Slow (10's of km/day) western Currents run along _______________ coasts of land Jan 271:19 PM Tropical Convergence 30 Centers of gyres tend to be around _____ degrees latitude center Convergence is caused by water piling up in the ___________ of the gyre hill 2 Forms a __________ of water about _____ meters high in the center Jan 271:19 PM Effects of Currents on Climate cold warm Jan 271:19 PM Effects of Currents on Climate Currents move both _________ and __________ water all around the Earth moisture Warm currents tend to add ________________ to the cool warm Surface currents ____________ or ___________ the air winds as they blow across them. climate above it, influencing the ____________ of the land near rainy mild Results in _________ temperatures and __________ weather coast the ______________. Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM 2 Ocean Currents NOTES.notebook Effects of Currents on Climate cool Cold currents tend to __________ the winds as they blow across them. dry cool Brings _________ and __________ weather to the land February 10, 2016 Deep Water Currents 2 Over _____ km deep bottom cold Transport the very _________ waters at the ___________ of the ocean density Caused by differences in ______________ rather than surface ______________ winds Jan 271:19 PM Deep Water Currents Cold equator ___________ water flows back toward the _______________ Jan 271:19 PM Deep Water Currents slower Move ______________ than surface currents along the ocean floor’s hills and valleys Estimates indicate they may take as long as Coriolis Affected by the ___________________ effect, which causes 1000 _________ years to make the round trip from the curve them to _____________ pole, to the equator, and back to the pole world mixes Moves and __________ water around the __________ Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM 3 Ocean Currents NOTES.notebook Upwelling cold The upward movement of __________ water from the ocean depths. February 10, 2016 Upwelling Example West coast of South America surface As winds blow away the warm _____________ water, cold ___________ water rises to replace it. nutrients Cold ___________ water contains many ______________ fish (and therefore ____________). Upwelling allows them surface to be brought to the ________________. Jan 271:19 PM El Niño Jan 271:19 PM Add to notes: El Nino results in a reversal of equatorial current -- resulting in disruption of normal weather patterns 2 7 Every _____ to ______ years Christmas time Forms around ______________________ Pacific A ________________ ocean event; however, disrupts weather patterns around the entire world (especially the coastal ________________areas) Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM Jan 271:19 PM 4
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