OCEANS:
- Oceans hold more heat energy than the atmosphere
- Because of this they influence the climate on land in many ways
OCEAN CURRENTS:
-A large volume of water flowing in a certain direction
WHY DO WE HAVE OCEAN CURRENTS?
- Winds: They blow along the surface of the water creating currents
- Variation in Water Temperatures: This creates convection currents which causes oceans to move
TYPES OF CURRENTS:
- Surface Currents: Driven by prevailing winds/convection in the atmosphere
- Deep Ocean Currents: Driven by convection in the ocean
SURFACE CURRENTS:
- Surface ocean currents are caused by the surface wind patterns
VARIATION OF WATER TEMPERATURE:
- Warm currents flow away from the equator
- Cold currents flow toward the equator from the poles
VARIATION OF WATER SOURCES:
- Convection Currents: lighter (less dense), warm water rises while heavier (more dense) cool water sinks
- This movement creates circulation patterns
- Convection results in the continual circulation of ocean water on a global scale
DEEP OCEAN CURRENTS:
- Caused by differences in temperature and salinity (saltiness)
- Helps regulate temperature and maintains Earth’s balance transports water around the globe
- Examples: The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE:
- Weather: Conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time
- Climate: how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time (usually measured in periods of 30 years or more)
OCEAN CURRENTS AND CLIMATE:
- It takes more energy to change the temperature of water than land or air
the climate near the coast line is moderated by the ocean (cooler summers warmer winters)
- Oceans hold more heat energy than the atmosphere
- Because of this they influence the climate on land in many ways
OCEAN CURRENTS:
-A large volume of water flowing in a certain direction
WHY DO WE HAVE OCEAN CURRENTS?
- Winds: They blow along the surface of the water creating currents
- Variation in Water Temperatures: This creates convection currents which causes oceans to move
TYPES OF CURRENTS:
- Surface Currents: Driven by prevailing winds/convection in the atmosphere
- Deep Ocean Currents: Driven by convection in the ocean
SURFACE CURRENTS:
- Surface ocean currents are caused by the surface wind patterns
VARIATION OF WATER TEMPERATURE:
- Warm currents flow away from the equator
- Cold currents flow toward the equator from the poles
VARIATION OF WATER SOURCES:
- Convection Currents: lighter (less dense), warm water rises while heavier (more dense) cool water sinks
- This movement creates circulation patterns
- Convection results in the continual circulation of ocean water on a global scale
DEEP OCEAN CURRENTS:
- Caused by differences in temperature and salinity (saltiness)
- Helps regulate temperature and maintains Earth’s balance transports water around the globe
- Examples: The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WEATHER AND CLIMATE:
- Weather: Conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time
- Climate: how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time (usually measured in periods of 30 years or more)
OCEAN CURRENTS AND CLIMATE:
- It takes more energy to change the temperature of water than land or air
the climate near the coast line is moderated by the ocean (cooler summers warmer winters)