Sun affects ocean currents

7. Sun affects ocean currents • The sun heats the atmosphere creating winds and movement in the sea surface through friction • Wind blows hard that cause movement in the water surface creating ocean currents. • Sun alters density of the ocean surface water by changing its temperature and its salinity • When water is cooler or saltier because of evaporation, density of water increase, and this can result that water can be unstable.

10. Video • If you want to see the video copy the link and it will take you directly to the video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9hawBb3wbk

12. Wind patterns • Wind patterns is also known as general circulation • When the sun heats directly the region is the equator- sun heats the air and leaves low pressure areas • Winds are affectedbythe Coriolis effect • Thearea of calm is called doldrums- no steady surface winds

13. Wind patterns • Wind patterns: • Tropical Easterlies: 0-30 degrees latitude- warm, steady winds that blow almost always. • Prevailing Westerlies: 30-60 degrees latitude- winds that move to the poles curve to the east • Polar Easterlies: 60-90 degrees latitude- join with prevailing westerlies to reduce upward motion, they form when the atmosphere cools from the poles

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18. Rubric