Ocean Currents and Weather and Climate

​Currents & Climate

​What causes surface currents?

What causes Deep Currents?​

Multiple Choice

Which of the following do you think describes a current?

• a large column of air mass

• the difference in density between to objects

• a large stream of flowing water

• the changing in density of a substance

​A current is a large stream of water that flows through the ocean.

Surface currents affect water to the depth of several hundred meters. They are driven mainly by winds. ​

​Winds create the waves!

​Surface Currents!

​

​...creates wind patterns!

These patterns move in circles in the 5 different oceans of the world!​

​Most flow east or west then double back to compete a circle.

​The Sun's Thermal Energy...

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Multiple Choice

What creates the winds?

• the moon's gravity

• the Earth's rotation

• the movement of tectonic plates.

• the Sun's thermal energy!

Multiple Choice

What is mostly responsible for surface currents?

• the Earth's rotation

• the moon's gravity

• winds

• the pull of the Sun's gravity

Multiple Choice

What type of patterns do the winds/currents usually make?

• straight lines

• squares

• hexagonal

• circular

The Earth's rotation causes the paths of currents and winds to curve! This is called the CORIOLIS effect!​

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​Why do currents move in circular patterns?

​

In the Northern Hemisphere the currents curve clockwise (to the right).

In the Southern Hemisphere the currents curve counter-clockwise (to the left)​

​Have you ever heard of "clockwise" before?

​Coriolis Effect!

​

Multiple Choice

Which of the following defines the Coriolis Effect?

• The effect of the Earth's rotation on the direction of the wind & currents.

• The effect of Earth's gravitational pull on the bodies of water on the Earth.

• The Sun's influence on the amount of energy absorbed by the prevailing winds.

• The energy brought forth by the orbit of the the planet.

Multiple Choice

Which direction do the currents/winds move in the Northern hemisphere?

• Clockwise or to the right.

• Counterclockwise or to the left.

• Straight south

• Straight north

It is the largest and most powerful current in the North Atlantic Ocean!​

​

The Gulf Stream moves warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to Caribbean Sea. It moves north along the east coast of the U.S. It then curves eastward across the Atlantic and becomes the North Atlantic Drift. ​

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​Have you ever been to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina?

​The Gulf Stream!

Multiple Choice

The most powerful current in the Northern Atlantic Ocean is the...

• The Gulf Stream

• El Nino

• La Nina

• North Carolina

Fill in the Blank

The ____ Stream brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea north along the east coast of the U.S.

Has a warming effect on the climate of nearby land areas. ​

​So what is weather?

​The Gulf Stream...

​

​Climate is the pattern of temperature and precipitation over a long period of time.

​

The climate of the mid-Atlantic region is moderate because of the Gulf Stream! (Winters mild and summers humid)​

Currents move warm and cool air around the globe!

Warm air from the tropics moves towards the poles!

A surface current warms or cools the air above it. This affects the climate of the land near the coast. ​

​Have you ever swam in the warm Atlantic Ocean?

​Currents affect climate!

​

Warm currents bring warm wet air to an area while cold currents bring cool dry air!​

​How does this create wind?

​Cold air holds less water than warm air!

​

Multiple Choice

What is different about warm air as compared to cold?

• it is very dry

• it moves fast

• it is very slow

• it holds a lot more moisture

Multiple Choice

Why is the climate of the mid-Atlantic region of the United States very moderate?

• because of the Gulf Stream

• because it is near the equator.

• because people live there.

• It isn't

Multiple Choice

Where does the warm air from the tropics try to go?

• to the equator

• up towards the outer atmosphere

• towards the poles

• towards the clouds

A climate event that causes warm currents east and stops cold currents. This causes things like warm winters, heavy rains, and flooding. ​

​El Niño

​

​This happens every 2 to 7 years and lasts for a year or 2.

When surface waters are cooler than normal. This event brings colder winters and greater precipitation in ​Pacific Northwest. and the North Central United states.

​La Niña

Multiple Choice

What climate event brings mild winters and warm moist air?

• La Niña

• El Niño

• La Lala

• We don't talk about Bruno.

Deep ocean currents are caused by differences in density of ocean water.

This is known as a "convection current" or "the movement of matter due to differences in density!"

​Convection happens in the atmosphere too!

​What causes deep ocean currents?

​

The cycling of matter due to differences in density. ​

​

​

​Have you ever seen hot air rise off of a road?

​Convection Currents

Multiple Choice

What is it called when matter moves or cycles due to differences in density?

• surface current

• deep current

• ocean current

• convection current

Multiple Choice

What is density?

• the amount of stuff in a certain area

• the ability of something to move

• the collection of objects

• the amount of something

Density = mass/volume​

​The more mass in a given volume the more density it has.

​The equation for density.

​

Multiple Choice

If the mass of an object is 10 kilograms and a volume of 10 cubic centimeters... what is its density?

• 1 kilogram per cubic centimeter.

• 10 kilograms per cubic centimeter

• 100 kilograms per cubic centimeter

• 1000 kilograms per cubic centimeter