Then look at the map of major ocean currents and write a prediction describing the climate. Circulation of the southern ocean university of canterbury. The north pacific current is formed by the collision of the kuroshio current. What are the different ocean currents that carry warm water give at least three examples. The interoceanic ridge system divides the atlantic and indian oceans into compartments of roughly equal size. The role of ocean currents in climate noaa climate. Ocean currents flow for great distances, and together, create the global conveyor belt which plays a dominant role in determining the climate of many of the earths regions. The waters are rich in nutrients from the antarctic circumpolar. In addition to the ocean currents, you can also see swirly features, known as ocean eddies, on the maps. Ocean current notesocean water contains streamlike movements of water called ocean currents. These currents can move faster than an olympic swimmer at speeds of 2.
Deep ocean currents also known as thermohaline circulation are caused by. A schematic global summary of major currents in the upperocean schmitz, 1996. Deepocean currents are driven by differences in the waters density. This is especially so as the southern ocean carries the. Predicting the effect of ocean surface currents on coastal climates read the introduction aloud. Ocean currents influences on coastal and marine organisms. The pacific has been both a barrier and a highway throughout human history. The ekman spiral, named after swedish scientist vagn walfrid ekman 18741954 who first theorized it in 1902, is a consequence of the coriolis effect. Ocean currents 433 system is moving through space at an unknown speed. An overview of ocean currents and how they circulate.
Winds are able to move the top 400 meters of the ocean creating surface ocean currents. Ocean currents and mixing by winds and waves can transport and redistribute heat to deeper ocean layers. A schematic global summary of major currents in the upper ocean schmitz, 1996. It is similar to the gulf stream in the north atlantic and is part of the north pacific ocean gyre. Feb 19, 2020 ocean currents drive local climate conditions i. It contains the deepest place on earth the mariana trench. This friction then forces the water to move in a spiral pattern, creating gyres. An ocean eddy is formed when currents sometimes pinch off into sections, creating the. Surface currents are those found in the upper 400 meters 1,300 feet of the ocean and make up about 10% of all the water in the ocean.
The major surface circulation patterns at sea are the result of the prevailing winds in the atmosphere. Students will observe a demonstration on how the temperature of water creates water movement. No means are available fox determining absolute motion, but this is of no concern, because theobserved largescale motion of the atmosphere and the sea can be adequately described by means of the simple equations if the. In these areas, the balance between gravity and earths spin causes geostrophic currents to. Upon completion of video, students should begin to answer questions provided on the ocean currents worksheet. Ocean currents, including the ocean conveyor belt, play a key role in determining how the ocean distributes heat energy throughout the planet. Ocean currents pacific ocean tanuj pareek kirorimal college du subject. Ocean currents profoundly affect the weather, marine transportation, and the cycling of nutrients. In section 1 it was noted that ocean currents can affect regional climate and the global surface distribution of temperature and salinity. Similar to a person trying to walk in a straight line across a spinning merrygoround, winds and ocean waters get deflected from a straight line path as they travel. Equatorial pacific ocean currents under the influence of prevailing trade winds, the north equatorial current and the south equatorial current start from the eastern pacific west coast of central. They flow in between the equator and about 20 0 south. Oceanography studies are rooted fundamentally in the study of ocean currents and how they affect the marine life and the entire ecosystem of the earth.
For example, wind pushes the water along the surface to form winddriven currents. Ocean waters influence on the distribution of organisms. Ocean current is the directed movement of the ocean water by virtue of the forces like wind, earths rotation, gravitation of the moon etc. The pacific ocean is so large that all the worlds continents could fit into it, with enough room for another africa as well. Pacific ocean introduction an introduction to the pacific ocean the vast blue depths of the pacific ocean await you.
Ocean currents shortcut method by to learn faster clear ias. In the deepocean the currents do not move horizontally but vertically called density currents i. Have each student discuss the research question with one or two other students and then write their hypothesises on paper. Have students begin watching ocean currents internet video lesson, 10 minutes. Global winds drag on the waters surface, causing it to move and build up in the direction that the wind is blowing. Most of the fauna and flora of the pacific ocean is concentrated along its margins. On a map, students will locate and draw the major gyres and ocean currents that have an effect on canadas climate. Of all the warm currents, the gulf stream has been studied most extensively. Pdf ocean currents types and causes of currents hafez.
Currents are influenced by global wind coriolis effect, salinity, continental deflection and convection cells. For example, the gulf stream a warm current that goes around the north atlantic ocean is thought to make northwest europe much warmer than it would otherwise be. Ocean currents factors responsible for the formation of ocean currents effects of ocean currents on climate, fishing, navigation, tropical cyclones. Flow of ocean waters over undersea mountains and valleys also produces currents. What causes ocean currents and how do we measure them. Students should be taking no tes as they watch the video. The gulf stream in the north atlantic and the kuroshio current in the north pacific are examples of warm currents.
In the deep ocean the currents do not move horizontally but vertically called density currents i. Higher values of sea level oranges and reds are associated with gyres and warm eddies, while lower values are associated to colder features. The gulf stream, carrying warm atlantic water, moves northwards along the coast of norway. In these areas, the balance between gravity and earths spin causes geostrophic currents to flow. Geostrophic currents surface ocean circulation subtropicl gyre boundary current deep ocean circulation thermohaline conveyor belt ess200a prof. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. Surface currents are mostly caused by the wind because it creates friction as it moves over the water. The ocean in motion circulation in this program, students will learn about the driving forces responsible for ocean circulation. Pacific ocean currents phytoplankton and fishing pmf ias. Pacific current change slowed global warming scientific.
Coastal and sea floor features influence their location, direction, and speed. Jinyi yu basic ocean structures upper ocean 100 m shallow, warm upper layer where light is abundant and where most marine life can be found. The current forms the southern part of the north pacific subpolar gyre and the northern part of the north pacific subtropical gyre. Drifter trajectories illustrate circulation features. The waters density is controlled by temperature cold water is denser than warm water and salinity salty water is denser than fresh water how does the varying density of the oceans waters create the. Pdf of this article 2 mb lionel carter there is evidence that warming following the last ice age caused major shifts in the strengths and locations of ocean currents. Deep ocean currents are caused by differences in water temperature and salinity. This video segment uses databased visual noaa representations to trace the path of surface ocean currents around the globe and explore their role in creating climate zones. Research papers on ocean currents ocean currents research papers examine surface currents and deep ocean currents, including the most famous of them, the gulf stream. Ocean layers, currents, and distribution of marine organisms. Europe being warmer than canada at the same latitude, and therefore with warming ocean currents, there is a positive feedback with the rate of. Ocean currents flow for great distances, and together, create the global conveyor belt which plays a dominant role in determining the climate of many of. Over larger areas, circular wind patterns create hills and valleys on the ocean surface.
Surface currents in the oceans are driven by winds. Winds, water density, and tides all drive ocean currents. Get detailed illustrated notes covering entire syllabus. This lesson will discuss surface ocean currents, deep water ocean currents, and the forces that drive them.
Ocean currents and atmospheric winds that have large spatial scales, on the order of tens of kilometers in the ocean and hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere. The, 3000, and 5000 m isobaths are shown, and regions less than 3000 m deep are shaded. Ocean current, stream made up of horizontal and vertical components of the circulation system of ocean waters that is produced by gravity, wind friction, and water density variation in different parts of the ocean. Jul 21, 2019 ocean currents are the vertical or horizontal movement of both surface and deep water throughout the worlds oceans. Jun 06, 2017 rip currents are narrow channels of water that form when waves of different intensities break on the shoreline and generate currents that keep the water level by pulling the large amounts of water brought in by the waves, back into the ocean. It is a significant ocean current in the pacific, atlantic and the indian ocean that flows from east to west. Western boundary currents are warm, deep, narrow, and fast flowing currents that form on the west side of ocean basins due to western intensification. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office.
Ocean currents are similar to winds in the atmosphere in that they transfer. Indicate the direction of motion in each hemisphere and in each ocean. Ocean water contains streamlike movements of water called ocean currents. Earths rotation results in the coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents. Similarly, fresh water is less dense than salty water. New zealands long, narrow landmass straddles two of the planets major water masses subtropical. Finally, students may need their earth science reference tables esrt for parts of the lesson a document used widely in the new york state earth science regents course as. The north pacific current sometimes referred to as the north pacific drift is a slow warm water current that flows westtoeast between 30 and 50 degrees north in the pacific ocean.
Ocean currents have profound effects on the climates of the continents, especially those regions bordering on the ocean. Antarctic circumpolar current acc, which flows continuously eastward around antarctica. Currents normally move in a specific direction and aid significantly in the circulation of the earths moisture, the resultant weather, and water pollution. In this section the focus is on surface currents and the threedimensional global ocean circulation. Apr 15, 2015 pacific current change slowed global warming. In the pacific ocean it runs close to the eastern boundary, producing. Ocean currents and climate national geographic society. In this experiment, the students will hypothesize the cause of ocean currents and then develop a model to explain the role of.
The ocean environment unit 2 ocean currents oceans in motion 51. Currents are responsible for circulating water throughout the earths oceans. Cold, salty deep water is produced in the seas around antarctica and the high north atlantic. Deep ocean cold, dark, deep ocean where plenty supplies of. How ocean currents moderate climate teaching resources. Will this trend continue in a warming greenhouse world. Ocean surface currents have a major impact on regional climate around the world, bringing coastal fog to san francisco and comfortable temperatures to the british isles. Additionally, if you would like all of the resources together in a pdf document, that can be accessed as a complete resource here. We will show a video clip showing sea level height and describe its connection to ocean circulation. Surface currents are mostly caused by the w ind because it creates friction as it moves over the water.
Ocean currents and climate read earth science ck12. The southward extension of the kamchatka current forms the cold oya current, which flows to the east of the japanese island of honshu to meet the warm kuroshio waters in read more. The north atlantic current is already drawn as an example. It divides into two main branches and continues northwards with one branch on either side of svalbard. Like the gulf stream, it is a strong western boundary current. The surface waters of the bering sea circulate in a counterclockwise direction. The pacific ocean is the planets largest, deepest, oldest, widest, and most seismically active body of water. Reveals how ocean currents transfer heat around the globe using the gulf stream as an example.
Notes ocean currents free download as powerpoint presentation. Middle school ocean currents what are their effects. Oceanography currents geography notes on ocean currents, cold and warm currents doorsteptutor material for ugc is prepared by worlds top subject experts. Water moves ahead from one place to another through ocean currents while the water in the waves does not move, but the wave trains. Examine the direction of currents in each ocean, then draw circular oceancurrent patterns with lines and arrows on map 1. Tides create a current in the oceans, near the shore, and in bays and estuaries along the coast. Warm currents warm ocean currents flow away from the equatorial region on the western side of ocean basins. The pacific is the planets largest ocean, occupying over one third of earths surface. Water currents are a crucial abiotic factor or issue that considerably influences copy of marine organisms, marine ecosystems we tend to all inhabit. Sea height anomaly maps show the difference of sea level from average conditions, while sea. The following points highlight the ten main currents in the pacific ocean. How much heat and fresh water do the oceans transport and exchange with the atmosphere and cryosphere. These 4 factors keep currents flowing in distinct patters around the earth. Surface water is heated by the sun, and warm water is less dense than cold water.
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