WW FOSS Investigation 8 Ocean Currents and Climate

ocean currents

a movement of ocean water that follows a regular pattern

continental deflection

when the surface currents meet continents causing them to change direction.

Coriolis effect

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

gyre

the large, circular surface-current pattern found in each ocean

Salinity

The total amount of dissolved salts in a water sample.

Tides

the regular rise and fall of the ocean's surface influenced by the moon's gravity pulling on earth

rip currents

a relatively strong, narrow current flowing outward from the beach through the surf zone and presenting a hazard to swimmers.

boundary current

a large-scale ocean current along the coastline

Gulf Stream

A warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico northward through the Atlantic Ocean

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

patch of solid waste the size of Texas floating in the currents of the North Pacific gyre, mostly consisting of plastics.

deep ocean currents

convection currents occurring deep in the ocean

spring tide

The tide with the greatest difference between consecutive low and high tides

neap tide

the tide with the least difference between consecutive low and high tides

Upwelling

The movement of deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water to the surface

tidal force

a force that occurs when the gravity pulling on one side of an object is larger than that on the other side, causing the object to stretch

tidal range

The difference in levels of ocean water at high tide and low tide

high tide

The time at which the tide reaches its highest level

low tide

The time at which the tide reaches its lowest level

Surface Ocean Currents

caused by global winds pushing along the surface of the ocean