EARTH SCIENCE 10-4 What are ocean currents?

OBJ: Define current.

Describe how surface currents and density currents are formed.

I. On the Move - the water in Earth’s oceans is always ___________.

CURRENT = stream of water flowing in the oceans.
- some currents move along the ___________of
the ocean.
- Some currents move _____ and ___________.
- Some currents flow along the ___________.

II. Density Currents = stream of water that moves up and down in

___________ depths.
- ocean currents can be ___________or ___________.
Warm Currents - start at the ___________.
- they bring ___________ water to cooler areas.
- this ___________ the air in that region.
- warm water is less dense and _______to the surface.
- start at the ___________.
Cold Currents - they bring ___________ water to warm areas.
- this ___________ the air in that region.
- cold water is more dense and _______to the bottom.
Salinity - ___________ in ocean water can cause density
currents.
- dense, salty water ___________.
- less salty water ___________.

III. Surface Currents - ___________ cause most surface currents.

- Winds along the Earth’s ___________ blow east to
west.
Coriolis Effect = ___________ of Earth’s winds and ocean currents by
Earth’s rotation.
- Northern Hemisphere winds tend to curve ________.
- Southern Hemisphere winds tend to curve ________.
Continent and large islands cause currents to travel in
huge ___________.
- ______________ in the Northern Hemisphere
- ________________ in the Southern Hemisphere.