Fact Statements

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

 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.

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

 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 The Antarctic Bottom Water current has HIGH density. 17