The ocean currents moderate the planets temperature. These waters are occupied at the upper 400m of an ocean or the ekman layer. Ocean currentssurface currents the upper 400 meters of the ocean 10%. Upwelling is a process in which currents bring deep, cold water to the surface of the ocean. Integrated ocean observing system 15 eastwest highway 2nd floor silver spring, md 20910 240 5339444. Dynamics of ocean currents california digital library. This is known as the coriolis effect and is largely responsible for upwelling. Currents flow in complex patterns affected by wind, the waters salinity and heat content, bottom topography, and the earths rotation. Southern transverse currents transverse currents are the major eastare the major eastwest currents powered primarily by trade winds and westerlies provide most of the energy for the worlds surface currents. Ocean currents houston independent school district. This makes them one of the most important driving forces of climate. Today were going to learn about ocean currents slide 3 1.
Here we show that upper ocean microbes can be advected up to 3,500 km in. Download ppt as well as these direct measurements of currents, numerical models are increasingly used to predict ocean currents based on, for example, wind data and buoyancy fluxes heat and freshwater exchange. Drift in ocean currents impacts intergenerational microbial. Mar 10, 20 ocean currentssurface currents the upper 400 meters of the ocean 10%. The module focuses on the driving mechanisms for currents, along with influences that modify existing currents. Distribute the student handout before you begin for students to take notes on key information. The thermohaline circulation the great ocean conveyor belt.
Ocean currents o animation of surface currents linked in ppt lab or demonstration illustrating temperature, salinity and density. Surface currentspycnocline circulation these waters make up about 10% of all the water in the ocean. Directions of ocean currents the direction is influenced by many different factors. T he flow of ocean water exerts a fundamental influence on global climate on all scales and has major environmental consequences. The current flow varies both in time, with depth below the mean surface and in space. Ocean currents free download as powerpoint presentation. Ocean currents cause hills to form as water moves around in circle as water moves around in circle it piles up in middle it piles up in middle the greater the slope, the more quickly water flows greater current.
Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. Ocean currents and climate study guide ocean water the ocean water never stands still. Most ocean currents are driven by wind and solar heating of surface waters, while some currents result from density and salinity variations of the water column. The module focuses on the driving mechanisms for currents. Ocean waves and tides atlanta public schools 234975 ppt. In oceans, waves move through seawater waves caused. Ocean currents meander bend in a currents flow ring large, whirllike pattern when a meander is cut off eddy small current ring surface current link horizontal, streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean can reach depths of several hundred meters surface currents continued. Ocean currents earth surface wind pattern figure 6. This module discusses the origin of ocean currents in both the open ocean and in coastal areas. It also provides basic information about ocean currents,wave. Ocean currents, including the ocean conveyor belt, play a key role in determining how the ocean distributes heat energy throughout the planet. Upper ocean deep ocean deep ocean circulation surface circulation ess200a prof. In this model, high salinity water cools and sinks in the north atlantic, and deep water returns to the surface in the indian and pacific oceans through upwelling.
An overview of ocean currents with emphasis on currents on. Ocean currents transport important quantities, such as nutrients, heat and pollutants around the world, often with direct consequence to humans. Notes ocean currents free download as powerpoint presentation. Ocean currents have a tremendous impact on the globe and earths hydrospheric and atmospheric interactions. Because they respond extremely slowly to changes, the effects of global warming will gradually become noticeable but over a period of centuries. Ppt ocean currents powerpoint presentation free to download id. Land near the ocean is often warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Surface currents surface currents are caused by the wind and usually move only the upper few hundred meters of water. Eastern boundary currents brings cooler temperature to low latitudes. But whats causing the motion you see here with this gently swaying anemone on the sea floor off the atlantic coast. This is a zipped file containing all the sections necessary for a unit on ocean currents.
Ocean waves, tides and currents waves a wave is a rhythmic movement that carries energy through matter or space. Ppt ocean currents powerpoint presentation free to. However, floating plankton have a different perception of their habitat because they drift in ocean currents. Ocean currents warm currents flow away from the equator. The gravitational forces of the moon and sun on the water causes the tides the moon, being nearest, has the greatest effect even though the sun is the larger. Global warming could alter currents patterns for a least a short time. The current is like the wind, being stochastic both in space and time. For example western boundary currents carries heat from the tropics toward the poles. Effect of insolation and salinity gradients on the ocean currents. What are the different ocean currents that carry warm water give at least three examples. They constitute about 10% of all the waters in an ocean. Ocean currents flow in complex patterns and pathways and are affected by several elements such as wind, temperature, topography of the ocean floor, the earths rotation and water salinity.
Ocean currents 433 system is moving through space at an unknown speed. Generally, an ebook can be downloaded in five minutes or less. Ocean currents currents surface currents in the oceans are driven by winds. This unit should take about a week and a half to 2 weeks to complete. Ocean currents and climate national geographic society. It is the layer of the ocean water which moves due to the stress of blowing the wind and this motion is thus called as ekman transport. Ocean current, stream made up of horizontal and vertical components of the circulation system of ocean waters that is produced by gravity, wind friction, and water density variation in different parts of the ocean. These waters are the upper 400 meters of the ocean. Ocean currents 6th grade earth science sutton middle school. Oscar is provided on both 1 degree and degree grids.
Ppt ocean waves, tides and currents powerpoint presentation. Ocean currents and climate average february temperatures oceanography 112 oceanography 112 phil farquharsonphil farquharson upwelling and downwelling upwelling vertical movement of cold, vertical movement of cold. My units have been made to be both informative and visually stimulating for all students. Jinyi yu basic ocean current systems from is the temperature rising. Coriolis effect surface currents in the northern hemisphere curve right. Oscar is an ongoing research project intended to improve the calculation of surface currents from satellite data, and validation methods. Ppt ocean waves, tides and currents powerpoint presentation free to download id. No means are available fox determining absolute motion, but this is of no concern, because theobserved largescale motion of the atmosphere and the sea can be adequately described by. Ocean currents continuous movement of ocean water due to wind and the coriolis effect surface currents warm currents flow away from equator cold curents counter currents flow in the opposite direction of windrelated currents gulf stream rings stream wanders, sends out. Here we show that upper ocean microbes can be advected up to 3,500 km. The great ocean conveyor belt is the name for a model of the large system of ocean currents that affects weather and climate by circulating thermal energy around earth. The great ocean currents the climate engine ocean currents transport enormous amounts of heat around the world.
Ocean currents and mixing by winds and waves can transport and redistribute heat to deeper ocean layers. At present, currents averaged over the top 30m of the ocean are provided on a 5day timebase, with a 10day smoothing, based on steady ekman dynamics. What causes ocean currents ocean exploration facts. Factors influencing currents sun wind coriolis gravity 4. Departing space station commander provides tour of orbital. Ocean current vocab ppt ocean current jigsaw lesson ppt and worksheet currents and climate ppt currents. Physical and chemical oceanography bay high school. Ocean currents are similar to winds in the atmosphere in that they transfer. This unit introduces students to forces that force ocean currents, and allows students to explore what thermohaline and winddriven currents in the ocean look like and why. Western boundary currents are warm, deep, narrow, and fast flowing currents that form on the west side of ocean basins due to western intensification. The adobe flash plugin is needed to view this content. Ocean currents moving seawater surface ocean currents transfer heat from warmer to cooler transfer heat from warmer to cooler areas oceanography 101 oceanography 101 phil farquharsonphil farquharson similar to pattern of major wind belts affect coastal climatesaffect coastal climates deep ocean currents. Our current understanding of how marine biota are adapted to magnitudes, trends, and temporal patterns of variability in seasurface temperature has arisen from examining longterm records at key ocean locations.
Ocean currents are like rivers that move within the ocean. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. The major surface circulation patterns at sea are the result of the prevailing winds in. Because of this rotation, winds tend to veer right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern hemisphere. Ocean circulation winddriven circulation ekman layer, transport, pumping sverdrup theory western boundary current ess228 prof. Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, coriolis forces from the earths rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents. An ocean current is a regular movement of large amounts of water along defined paths. Winddriven currents deep water currents 40% of the global heat transport move slower than surface winds kilometers per day vs. Ocean currents meander bend in a currents flow ring large, whirllike pattern when a meander is cut off eddy small current ring surface current link horizontal, streamlike movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean can reach depths of.
479 1164 698 727 361 496 1236 1482 1610 804 412 257 460 929 870 1637 715 97 401 1022 1415 101 1449 1456 572 144 848 45 917 140 92 102 425 481 15 154 8 1330 1107 1089