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Ocean CurrentsThe steady flow of ocean water in a prevailing direction
Ocean CurrentsDriven by several factors
TidesWindThermohaline circulation
Tidal CurrentsOccur with the rise and fall of the tides
Near the shoreBaysEstuaries
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
Coastal CurrentsDepend on
WindsWavesLand formations
Coastal CurrentsWinds that blow along the shoreline—longshore winds—affect waves
and, therefore, currentsLongshore currents are generated when a wave train reaches the coastline and
release bursts of energyMay form rip currents (not rip tides) - a localized current that flows away from
the shoreline toward the ocean
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
Surface CurrentsOccur on the open oceanDriven by a complex global wind system
Surface Currents – Coriolis EffectDue to Earth’s rotation
The Earth rotates faster at the Equator than it does at the poles Earth is wider at the Equator; point on the Equator
has farther to travel in a day
http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es1904/es1904page01.cfm
http://www2.palomar.edu/users/pdeen/Animations/34_Coriolis.swf
Surface Currents – Coriolis EffectCirculating air or wind is deflected by the Coriolis Effect
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
Surface CurrentsGlobal winds drag on the water’s surface
Caused movement in the direction that the wind is blowingResults in the deflection of surface ocean currents to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere (in a clockwise spiral) and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere (in a counter-clockwise spiral)
Called gyres Occur north and south of the equator Not at the equator
Coriolis effect is not present