Download global winds

An ocean current can
be defined as any
continuous flow of
water along a definite
path in the ocean.
It is important to know
the direction and speed
of ocean currents as
they can influence
many natural and manmade ocean conditions.
Predicting Oil spills flow.
Aid in marine search and
rescues.
 Predicting storm tracks.
 Predicting the movement
of icebergs.
Finding fishing locations
and migration patterns.
Migration is a seasonal
movement from one place
to another for a reason
SURFACE CURRENTS
Horizontal movement in the
upper waters of the oceans
that are usually made by
wind.
Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic
Current, the California
Current, the Atlantic South
Equatorial Current, and the
Westwind Drift
SURFACE CURRENTS
ARE CONTROLLED BY 3
FACTORS.
GLOBAL WINDS
CORIOLIS EFFECT
CONTINENTAL
DEFLECTIONS
WIND
THE MOVEMENT OF AIR
ACROSS THE SURFACE OF
THE EARTH DUE TO
UNEQUAL
TEMPERATURES.
GLOBAL WINDS
GLOBAL WINDS CERTAIN
WIND PATTERNS THAT
OCCUR WORLD WIDE AND
CREATE CURRENTS IN
PARTICULAR DIRECTIONS.
AS SURFACE
CURRENTS HEAT UP AT
THE EQUATOR. THE
EQUATOR DIVIDES THE
EARTH INTO NORTH
AND SOUTH
HEMISPHERES. ON
AVERAGE IT IS THE
HOTTEST PLACE ON
EARTH
CORIOLIS EFFECT
Due to the Earth spinning,
surface waters and wind
move in a counterclockwise
direction in the Northern
Hemisphere and in a
clockwise direction in the
Southern Hemisphere.
CORIOLIS EFFECT
This effect is caused by the
rotation of the Earth.
Winds in the northern
hemisphere blow
counterclockwise and winds in
the southern hemisphere blow
clockwise.
CONTINENTAL
DEFLECTION
WHEN SURFACE
CURRENTS STRIKE A
CONTINENT, THEY
CHANGE DIRECTION
DUE TO SOME FORCE
OR DEFLECT.
THOR HEYERDAHL
A NORWEGIAN EXPLORER
WHO IN THE 1940S TRIED
TO SOLVE HUMAN
MIGRATION ACROSS THE
PACIFIC OCEAN. HE THIS
BY USING A RAFT KNOWN
AS THE KON-TIKI,
LEAVING PERU TO MAKE
HIS WAY TO POLYNESIA.
TRADE WINDS
Global winds that flow
from the east to the west
found in the tropics near
the equator. THEY WERE
USED BY SAILORS FOR
CENTURIES TO CROSS
THE OCEANS BY SHIP.
DOLDRUMS
Located between 5 North and
5 South of the equator. This is
also called the “equatorial
calms” because of the little or
no wind in the area. THEY
ARE KNOW FOR TRAPPING
SAILING SHIPS FOR DAYS OR
LONGER WITHOUT ENOUGH
WIND TO POWER THEIR
SAILS.
The currents eventually
come into contact with the
continents which deflect
them, creating giant
oceanic current circles
known as gyres.
DEEP CURRENTS
(Thermohaline)
They currents are
vertical and are caused
by changes in density
which is determined by
temperature and
salinity of the water.
DENSITY IS THE
AMOUNT OF MATTER IN
A GIVEN SPACE, OR
VOLUME.
SALINITY IS THE
AMOUNT OF SALT
FOUND IN THE WATER.
THE MORE DENSE THE
WATER IS, IT WILL
SINK. THE LESS DENSE
WATER IS IT WILL RISE.
THE RISING AND
SINKING OF WATER
DUE TO TEMPERATURE
IS CALLED A
CONVECTION CURRENT