University:
Manchester University
Course:
NASC 211 | Weather, Climate and Civilization
Academic year:

2019
Views:

120

Pages:

2
Author:

boltakvf

Science – Worksheet Objective At the end of this lesson, the students should explain how ocean surface and circulation directly affect the pattern of climate around the world Ocean Current Worksheet Temperature Affects and Surface Currents: Surface waters of the Earth’s oceans are forced to move, primarily by winds. Where winds blow in the same direction for a long period of time, currents will develop that transport large masses of water over considerable distances across ocean surfaces. Why do ocean currents and global winds move in a circular pattern? The circular pattern is caused by the Coriolis Effect. The Earth's rotation on its axis causes ocean currents and winds to curve to the right (clockwise direction) in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left (counter clockwise direction) in the Southern Hemisphere. As the winds and currents move, the Earth rotates underneath them. The currents appear to curve in relation to the Earth's surface. If the Earth did not spin on its axis then the currents and winds would appear to move in a straight direction. Part I: Compare the two pictures below (surface ocean currents and global wind patterns). Global Wind Patterns Ocean Surface Current Patterns Questions: 1. Take a look at the two pictures above. What do you notice about the global wind and surface current patterns? In general, the direction of the wind flows in the _______________ direction as the ocean surface currents. 2. The global winds in the first map generally travel in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Look at the global winds and compare the general direction of flow in the Northern Hemisphere with the general direction in the Southern Hemisphere. a. In the Northern Hemisphere the general direction is _____________________. b. In the Southern Hemisphere the general direction is _____________________. 2. The difference in direction is caused by the _________________ ________________. Part II: Using the table below label and color the currents in the picture (red = warm, blue = cold). Characteristic Temperature Number Name of Surface Current of Water Transported by Current 1 California Current Cold 2 Canary Current Cold 3 Gulf Stream Warm 4 Kuroshio Current Warm 5 East Australian Current Warm 6 Benguela Current Cold 7 Brazil Current Warm 8 Peru Current Cold 9 Antarctic Circumpolar Current Cold