Download Currents • Currents = horizontal and vertical movement of ocean

Currents
• Currents = horizontal and vertical movement of ocean waters
- Circulates warm and cold water around the planet
Types of Currents
• Surface Currents
• Deep Ocean Currents
Surface Currents
• Created by global winds --> Coriolis Effect
• Coriolis Effect = winds develop clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in
the Southern hemisphere
- Created by the Earth’s rotation
Deep Ocean Currents
• Driven by temperature and salinity (levels of salt) differences
- Thermohaline circulation --> Ocean Conveyor Belt
Cold
water
is more dense than warm water
•
• Heavy salt water is more dense than less salty water
- Cold, salty water is more dense --> will sink
- Warm, less salty water is less dense --> will rise
• Cold water at the poles will sink and move towards the equator and rise again
- Warm water at the equator at the surface of the water will travel towards the poles and
sink again
- Important for delivering warm and cold water throughout the planet and for bringing
nutrients and levels of salt at the different ocean depths
Gulf Stream
• Warm water will be transported from the Gulf of Mexico, up the Eastern coast of the United
States, and travel towards Northern Europe
- Transportation of warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the colder regions