Ocean Currents

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Ocean Currents
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Ocean Currents

• Ocean currents are streams of water that can move
  millions of cubic meters of water per second.
• The gulf stream moves 15,000 cubic meters of
  water per second.
• The Mississippi River only moves 100 cubic meters.

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Two types of Ocean Currents

• Surface currents- move on or near the surface of
  the ocean and are driven by wind.
• Deep Currents- move slowly beneath the surface of
  the ocean and are caused by differences in the
  density of water.

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Ocean Currents Surface and Deep
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Deep Currents
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Factors that Affect Ocean Currents

• Wind
• Location of the Continents

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Factors Affecting Surface Currents

• Earths Rotation
• Coriolois Effect- Deflection of the earths winds
  and ocean currents caused by the earths rotation

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• Surface currents move ____________ in the
  Northern Hemisphere.
• __________________ in the Southern Hemisphere.
  Gulf Stream Flow

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Factors affecting deep currents

• Salinity
• Water with a lot of salt is more dense than water
  with a little salt
• Temperature
• Cold Water is denser than warm water

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Warm Currents

• Currents flowing from areas near the equator are
  __________________.
• They Bring warm water into cooler regions.
• These warm currents tend to warm the air over
  nearby land areas.

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Cold Currents

• Currents coming from areas near the poles are
  ____________________.
• They bring cold water into warmer regions.
• These cold currents cool these areas.

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