Ocean water is constantly in motion,

powered by many different forces.

Ocean currents are masses of ocean water

that flow from one place to another.

Winds generate surface currents and

produce waves.

ISN 105 -Ocean Circulation

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com

mons/thumb/e/e0/Clouds_over_the_Atlantic_

Ocean.jpg/275px-

Clouds_over_the_Atlantic_Ocean.jpg

Ocean currents can be at the surface or

deep below (density currents).

Circulation in the ocean is important for

ocean mixing and recycling nutrients

Surface Circulation

Surface currents are movements of water

that flow horizontally in the upper part of

the ocean’s surface

Surface currents develop from friction

between the ocean and the wind that

blows across its surface

Surface Currents

Winds can cause vertical movements

Upwelling is the rising of cold water from

deeper layers to replace warmer surface

water

• Important because it brings a greater

concentration of dissolved nutrients to the

surface

Upwelling

http://www.piscoweb.org/files/image/research/Coasta

l-Oceanography/upwelling/upwelling.gif

https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Water/images/surface_currents_sm2.jpg

Gyres (gyros=circle) are large whirls of

water within an ocean basin

Wind is the force that creates surface

currents, but other factors influence the

movement of water

Coriolis effect

Surface Currents

Coriolis Effect- currents are deflected

away from their original course because

of Earth’s rotation

Currents in Northern Hemisphere

deflected to the right

Currents in Sourthern Hemisphere

deflected to the left

Coriolis Effect

How does land (continents) have an effect on this pattern?

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