Ocean Currents Notes

They help regulate climate and temperature.

They provide habitats for marine life.

They are responsible for the movement of tectonic plates.

They create new land masses.

Both paths curve to the right.

The northward path curves right, the southward path curves left.

Both paths curve to the left.

There is no difference in the paths.

The Coriolis effect causes currents to curve differently in each hemisphere.

Surface winds are stronger in the southern hemisphere.

Continents are larger in the northern hemisphere.

The Sun heats the northern hemisphere more than the southern hemisphere.

Coriolis effect

Continents

Surface winds

Warm water moves along the surface from the equator toward the poles, while cold water moves along the bottom from the poles toward the equator.

Cold water moves along the surface from the equator toward the poles, while warm water moves along the bottom from the poles toward the equator.

Both warm and cold water move only along the ocean surface.

Deep ocean currents do not involve temperature differences.

They are caused by differences in water density.

They are influenced by temperature and salinity.

They only occur near the ocean surface.

They help transport heat around the planet.

Differences in water density due to temperature and salinity

Wind patterns on the ocean surface

The rotation of the Earth only

Tidal forces from the moon

Surface currents carry warm water to polar regions

Deep ocean currents carry water to the equatorial regions

Warm water sinks because it is more dense

Cool water sinks because it is more dense

It cools and becomes more dense

It warms and becomes less dense

It evaporates

It freezes

Surface currents are driven by wind, while deep ocean currents are driven by differences in water density.

Surface currents are found only near the equator, while deep ocean currents are found at the poles.

Surface currents move vertically, while deep ocean currents move horizontally.

Surface currents are caused by tides, while deep ocean currents are caused by evaporation.