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Chapter 14 – The Movement of Ocean Water

Mrs. Mannel Earth Science. Chapter 14 – The Movement of Ocean Water. Surface Currents. Surface currents move water at or near the surface in stream like movement They can be several thousand km in length and travel across entire oceans

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Chapter 14 – The Movement of Ocean Water

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  1. Mrs. Mannel Earth Science Chapter 14 – The Movement of Ocean Water

  2. Surface Currents • Surface currents move water at or near the surface in stream like movement • They can be several thousand km in lengthand travel across entire oceans • The Gulf Stream current transports 25 times more water than all the rivers in the world

  3. Factors Controlling Surface Currents • Global winds • The Coriolis effect • Continental deflection

  4. Global Winds • Winds blowing across the earth’s surface create surface winds • Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions • At the equator, winds blow ocean water E to W • At the poles, winds blow ocean water W to E

  5. The Coriolis Effect • The Earth’s rotation causes winds and surface currents to move in a curved path rather than a straight line • Currents in the NH flow clockwise and in the SH counterclockwise

  6. Continental Deflection • Since continents rise above sea level, they cause winds, and therefore currents to become deflected...or change directions

  7. Ocean Temperatures

  8. Deep Currents • Deep currents are stream like movements of ocean water far below the surface • Deep currents are controlled by water densities • Density in ocean water is determined by temperatures and salinity Decreasing the temp and increasing the salinity will increase the density!

  9. Deep Currents • Colder, more dense water will always sink below warmer, less dense water • As these deep currents flow along the ocean floor towards the equator, they begin to warm and rise • As the warmer surface currents flow towards the poles, they cool and sink! • Page 369

  10. Surface Currents and Climate • Surface currents can warm, or cool the local climates of coastal areas

  11. El Nino • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FVZrw7bk1w • El Nino is a cycle of warmer waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean that can occur ever 2 to 12 years. • It is caused by the trade winds moving less warm water to the western Pacific • The effects of El Nino include flooding and mudslides due to an increase in precipitation while some regions experience droughts

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