1. Ocean Currents What do we know about ocean currents?
What conditions promote the development of ocean currents?

4. A current is a large stream of water that flows through the ocean
Currents
A current is a large stream of water that flows through the ocean
Two types of currents
Surface Currents
Deep Currents

5. Surface Currents
“rivers” of water on the top layer of the ocean

6. What Causes Surface Currents?
1. Driven by GLOBAL WINDS
Like polar easterlies, prevailing westerlies, trade winds, etc
The Coriolis Effect - winds curve because of Earth’s rotation
Insert video

7. What Causes Surface Currents?
2. Continents  They get in the way!
Gyres- Are caused when the continents deflect (bounce) the ocean currents, causing them to move in giant circles.
GYRES = CIRCLES
Great Pacific Garbage Patch  caused by a gyre
Insert video clip about gyres and the pacific garbage patch

8. Which surface current is off the Georgia coast?
The GULF STREAM

9. Surface Currents and Climate
Warm ocean currents bring warm climate

10. Deep Currents Slow-moving currents below the water’s surface
“Earth’s Conveyor Belt”

11. What causes deep ocean currents?
1. Temperature- Warm water rises and cold water sinks (remember convection currents!)

12. What causes deep ocean currents?
2. Differences in salinity (saltiness)
More salt = more dense = sinks
Less salt = less dense = rises
COMBINE THEM  water moves!

13. Currents – Not Always a Good Thing
Gulf Oil Spill Estimates = 800,000 gallons per day.
If spill had continued, there is enough oil in that pocket to last for 7 years.

14. Oil Spill in the Loop Current

15. Oil Spill in Loop Current

16. Currents density salinity temperature saltier equator
convection current salinity heat
equator density temperature saltier
Deep ocean currents are caused by differences in the ___________ of ocean water.
The density of ocean water depends on its ______________ and _______________.
As deep ocean currents reach the poles the water cools and gets ______________, which makes it denser causing it to sink.
This cool water then flows across the bottom of the ocean back to the ______________ where it is warmed again starting the _____________ ___________ over again.
This is the way that ___________ is distributed around
the globe.
density
salinity
temperature
saltier
equator
convection current
heat