1. Fact Statements

2.  Surface currents are mainly caused by prevailing winds.  Their flow is controlled by the winds, Earth’s rotation and location of the continents. 2

3.  The Coriolis effect causes wind and water currents to curve because of the Earth’s rotation.  Clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.

4.  The Gulf Stream current is a warm water current flowing up the east coast of the US and then towards England.

5.  Latitude affects the angle the sun hits the Earth and the amount of solar heat energy an area receives.  Ocean water temperature depends on latitude.

6.  Oceans affect the humidity and temperature of the atmosphere.  Oceans moderate the temperature and increases rainfall.

7.  Climate is the average weather, temperature and precipitation, of an area over a period of time.

8.  Oceans cause nearby land to have cooler summers and warmer winters

9.  Surface currents carry heat from the equator to the polar regions

10.  Heat flows through the atmosphere by convection.   When water evaporates it transfers heat between the oceans and the atmosphere. 10

11.  Deep currents are caused by differences in density and flow through the ocean basins. 11

12.  The sun transfers heat to the oceans by radiation. 12

13.  Density of air and water is affected by temperature. The higher the temperature the lower the density. 13

14.  Water flows through the ocean basins when it gets colder and sinks 14

15.  Salinity and temperature affect the density of ocean water. 15

16.  Thermohaline circulation is the primary cause of deep water currents. 16

17.  The Antarctic Bottom Water current has HIGH density. 17