1. The Jet Stream and Ocean Currents
Earth Science
Mr. Cloud

2. General Circulation in the Troposphere

3. Prevailing Winds
Winds that blow from a certain compass direction for a large part of the year
Affected by Earth’s rotation (Coriolis Effect)
Otherwise known as planetary winds.
Example: prevailing westerlies

4. A wet day in Mumbai, India (summer monsoon)
Monsoons
A wet day in Mumbai, India (summer monsoon)

5. In summer, the sun’s intensity is greatest over Asia
In summer, the sun’s intensity is greatest over Asia. This creates a region of low pressure that rises from the land, sinks to the ocean, and brings extreme moisture in its return.
In winter, insolation has its greatest intensity south of the equator. This creates a region of low pressure that rises from the south, sinks over Asia, and brings dry, cool weather to the region.

7. Jet Streams are caused by extreme pressure gradients between polar and equatorial air masses.

8. Jet streams follow the boundaries between hot and cold air.
The 50°-60° N/S region is where the polar jet is located with the subtropical jet located around 30°N.
Temperature changes the greatest in these areas causing extreme differences in air pressure.
As the difference in temperature between the two locations increase, the strength of the wind increases

9. General Location of the Polar and Subtropical Jet Stream in Summer (N
General Location of the Polar and Subtropical Jet Stream in Summer (N. Hemisphere)

10. Surface Ocean Currents

11. What causes Ocean Currents to flow?
Break it down!
Earth is spherical
 causes uneven heating of the Earth
 causes convection in the troposphere
 establishes Earth’s pressure belts
 produces prevailing winds
 drags upon the ocean’s surface causing the water to move!

12. Types of Ocean Currents
Cold Current
originate in polar regions and flow towards the equator
Warm current
originate in equatorial regions and flow towards the poles

13. Ocean Currents: What direction do they flow?
Northern Hemisphere:
clockwise
Southern Hemisphere:
counterclockwise

14. Warm, tropical waters travel in a clockwise direction due to the prevailing winds and Coriolis Effect.
Color enhanced image of the Gulf Stream.