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OCEAN CURRENTS. What causes OCEAN currents?. Use 1 book per table. Go to pg. 429 On your lab table, draw the ocean currents. Include continents USE COLOR. What causes currents?. Prevaling Winds:
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What causes OCEAN currents? • Use 1 book per table. • Go to pg. 429 • On your lab table, draw the ocean currents. • Include continents • USE COLOR
What causes currents? • Prevaling Winds: • winds that blow from a single general direction over a particular point on the Earth's surface. • Examples: • Westerlies • Trade Winds
What causes currents? • Changes in Water Temperature: • Cold water sinks, warm water rises. • This creates a movement of water based on radiation from the sun.
What causes currents? • Coriolis Effect • Deflection of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth’s rotation
What causes currents? • Changes in Salinity • Saline water (salty water) becomes more dense and sinks. Causes deep water currents.
What causes currents? • Uneven Heating • Differences in solar radiation from the sun causes ocean water to heat at different intensities, causes the rising and sinking of water. • WARM water expands and rises • COLD water contracts and sinks
What causes currents? • Basin Shape • The continents form a barrier which causes ocean water to be deflected and divided.
9.02 Label major surface currents • HOMEWORK • Use your book p. 429 to do this!
Ocean Terms: • Gyre: large system of rotating ocean currents, involved with large wind movements. • Boundary Current: ocean currents with dynamics determined by the presence of a coastline. • Western + Eastern
Deep Currents • Thermohaline circulation- caused by density and temp. difference • Salty water sinks; cold water sinks • Global conveyor belt
EARTH SCIENCE • FINISH: Your Ocean Currents Lab • Use books + Obj.’s • When done, show Mr. Shelson • Pick up Quiz review (due tomorrow) • YES…Homework if not complete!