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Surface Currents
A current is the flow of water moving through the ocean.
Surface currents (flow in the upper 1000 m) are caused by wind.
Surface Currents in the Ocean Warm currents flow from the equator to
the poles, and cold currents flow from the poles to the equator
Surface currents
form a
circular
pattern
called
a gyre.
Surface Currents in the Ocean
Gyres in the Northern Hemisphere flow clockwise, gyres in the Southern Hemisphere flow counterclockwise.
Surface Currents in the Ocean
West sides of oceans have warm ocean currents that flow away from the equator.
East sides of oceans have cold ocean currents that flow to the equator.
Surface Currents & Wind
The earth rotates in an easterly direction.
This makes the winds blowing toward the equator curve westward, and the winds blowing toward the poles curve eastward.
Surface Currents and Winds
Trade winds drive the equatorial part of the ocean currents.
They blow from the east, towards the west.
The westerly winds drive the polar part of the ocean currents.
They blow from the west, towards the east.
Deep Currents
Because the warm surface water and cold deep waters don’t mix, surface currents have little effect on the deep ocean water.
Deep currents are caused by density differences. Remember, cold water is more
dense than warm water!
Deep Current Movement
The densest water is at the poles. As ice forms, the salt is left behind, leading
to high-salinity, dense water. This water sinks to the deep ocean (deep
water masses). Water flows from high density to low
density, and moves from the poles toward the equator.
Upwelling When wind blows parallel to a shoreline,
surface currents and deep currents can mix.
The wind pushes the warm water away from the coast, and cold deep water takes its place.
This upward movement of cold water is called upwelling.
Where upwelling occurs, the water is rich with nutrients that it brings up from the ocean floor.