Ocean Currents[Date]

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• Ocean Currents Date
• Today I will
• Know what Oceans Currents are
• Be able to explain how they re-distribute energy
  across the globe

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Higher Atmosphere
If the earth continually received too much
insolation at the tropics and too little
insolation at the poles the tropics would
overheat and the poles would get colder and
colder. Rather, ocean currents redistribute the
energy around the world.
The process of ocean currents re-distributing the
energy is called oceanic circulation.
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Higher Atmosphere
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Oceans - Average depth 12,400m - Very dark -
Highly pressurised
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Higher Atmosphere
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Higher Atmosphere
Warm water is transferred from the tropics
Cold water is transferred from the poles
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Higher Atmosphere
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Higher Atmosphere
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Higher Atmosphere
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Higher Atmosphere
Continents deflect the currents to create gyres.
The coriolis force deflects the ocean currents
clockwise in the north and anti-clockwise in the
south
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Higher Atmosphere
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Higher Atmosphere
Neatly mark the currents onto your map of the
world. Annotate it fully.
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Higher Atmosphere
Explain how the Oceans help re-distribute energy
across the globe Introduction Warm water
expands and cold water contracts and therefore
warm water move towards colder areas 1. In
addition, as cold water is denser than warm
water, the cold water sinks away from the poles
and spreads towards the equator 1. The Coriolis
effect deflects the currents clockwise in the
Northern Hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the
southern Hemisphere 1. They are obstructed by
continents and can loop forming Gyres 1.
Case Study Atlantic Ocean In the North
Atlantic a clockwise loop or gyre is formed with
warm water from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Stream)
travelling northwards 1. Prevailing south
westerlies drag the current further North East
1. Colder water moves southwards e.g. the
Canaries Current 1. In the South Atlantic,
water moves the opposite way than from the North
1. Water moves Southwards as the Brazilian
current and is deflected left by the Coriolis
force 1. This movement of warm and cold water
helps to maintain the energy balance 1.