1 / 28

Ocean Currents

Ocean Currents. Two Types. Ocean currents are divided into two types: Surface currents , which are driven by the wind Deep ocean currents , which are driven by density. Surface Currents. Global winds flow in a regular pattern that varies with latitude. These patterns are:.

nedaa
Download Presentation

Ocean Currents

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ocean Currents

  2. Two Types • Ocean currents are divided into two types: • Surface currents, which are driven by the wind • Deep ocean currents, which are driven by density

  3. Surface Currents • Global winds flow in a regular pattern that varies with latitude. These patterns are:

  4. Surface Currents, cont’d • These large scale wind patterns exert a frictional drag and set the surface waters (down to ~400m) of the oceans in motion, forming currents.

  5. These currents are deflected by the continents, causing them to bend and create large current loops called circulation gyres in all the oceans. • Circulation of the gyres is clockwisein the Northern Hemisphere and anticlockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, due to the Coriolis Effect.

  6. Coriolis Effect Videos • Video Example • Iceland Volcano Eruption

  7. Circulation Gyres

  8. Surface currents carry heat from the tropics to higher latitudes, transferring the heat to the air and regulating temperatures worldwide. • Note: Wind direction indicates where the wind is coming from (a westerly wind is blowing from the west). Water direction indicates where the current is flowing to (a westerly current is flowing to the west).

  9. Recap of key concepts… • What are the two types of currents? • What force(s) drive surface currents? • What force(s) drive deep ocean currents? • What are Circulation Gyers? • How is a Gyer created? • Coriolis Effect

  10. Measuring Surface Currents • Oceanographers use drifters to measure the speed and direction of currents. • This info is used to predict: • where oil spills would go • weather patterns (hurricanes) • iceberg danger zones • where drifting organisms came from

  11. Drifter • The float is equipped with sensors that measure temperature, pressure, salinity, submergence and light. • The drogue just ensures the drifter moves with the ocean currents and not the wind and waves.

  12. Deep Ocean Currents • Density of ocean water depends on 2 variables: • Temperature – the colder the water, the more dense. The thermocline acts as a density boundary. • Salinity – the saltier the water, the more dense. The halocline also acts as a density boundary.

  13. Bottom waters are rich in nutrients because decomposition of dead creatures releases nitrogen and phosphorus. • The two density boundaries prevent cold, nutrient-rich bottom water from mixing with warm, surface water. • This limits the growth of plants, and also the animals that feed on them.

  14. Upwelling • Is a term that is used to describe nutrient-rich bottom waters moving up to the surface. • Where upwelling occurs, areas are much more productive. • One of the world’s richest fishing grounds off the coast of Peru is caused by upwelling.

  15. Causes of Upwelling • movement of surface waters away from a coastline. This water is replaced by bottom water. • surface cooling in the fall. Surface waters cool due to cooler air temps, become more dense, and sink. This pushes bottom water upwards. • winter storms, which mix water.

  16. Recap… • Why would we want to measure surface currents? • What is upwelling and how can it happen? • What is a major benefit of upwelling?

  17. El Niño • Happens every 3-8 years • The winds across the tropical Pacific reverse their direction. • This prevents upwelling and causes the collapse of fisheries off the coast of Peru • It also upsets weather patterns globally.

  18. Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uySu7Zv2cbU

  19. EL NINO – Think/Pair/Share • Explain EL NINO in your own words.

  20. Ocean Currents Activity • Colour the currents discussed as either warm or cold and answer questions attached.

  21. Assignment • Complete the Nike shoes Assignment using the following map of the pacific ocean (next slide) and answer the questions on the question sheet. • Remember: • Latitude = N/S from 0 to 90 • Longitude = E/W from 0 to 180

  22. E E E E E W W W W W N S

  23. Extensions • The recent tsunami which hit Fukishima, Japan dispersed a lot of debris into the Pacific Ocean. From your knowledge of the North Pacific currents and the Nike Shoes, predict where and when this debris might show up in about a year.

  24. Research Questions – 15 minutes • What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? • What is causing it? • What can we do about it?

  25. What did we find out?

More Related