Ocean MotionsOcean Motions

Information to help you Information to help you along in Earth sciencealong in Earth science

Does this look familiar?Does this look familiar?

Look closer………..

What’s in the ocean?What’s in the ocean?

Sea Surface TemperatureSea Surface Temperature

The OceanThe Ocean

The ocean provides us The ocean provides us with many things. It is with many things. It is more than a place for more than a place for swimming, boating, and swimming, boating, and other forms of other forms of recreation. recreation.

Ocean factsOcean facts

Oceans serve as a Oceans serve as a source of food, source of food, energy, and minerals.energy, and minerals.

Ocean facts…Ocean facts…But above all else, the sea But above all else, the sea helps keep the earth's helps keep the earth's climate healthy by climate healthy by regulating air temperature regulating air temperature and by supplying moisture and by supplying moisture to produce rainfall. to produce rainfall.

More facts….More facts….

If there were no ocean, If there were no ocean, life would not exist on life would not exist on our planet our planet

WavesWaves

WavesWavesWave- the movement of energy Wave- the movement of energy

through a body of water.through a body of water.Most waves form when winds Most waves form when winds

blowing across the water’s surface blowing across the water’s surface transmit their energy to the water.transmit their energy to the water.

The size of a wave depends on the The size of a wave depends on the strength of the wind, the length of strength of the wind, the length of time it blows, and the distance time it blows, and the distance over which the wind blows.over which the wind blows.

Waves may appear to carry water toward the shore, but the water does not move. If the water moved it would pile up on the coasts of every continent.

THE ENERGY OF THE WAVE MOVES TOWARD THE SHORE, THE WATER ITSELF REMAINS WHERE IT WAS.

As waves nears the shore the water As waves nears the shore the water is more shallow and they slow as is more shallow and they slow as they touch the ocean floor. The they touch the ocean floor. The speed changes the shape of the speed changes the shape of the wave. Higher wave height, lower wave. Higher wave height, lower wavelength. wavelength.

At a certain height the crest topples At a certain height the crest topples over and break on the shore forming over and break on the shore forming surf. This creates undertow, carrying surf. This creates undertow, carrying sand, shells, etc and could be sand, shells, etc and could be harmful to swimmers. harmful to swimmers.

Characteristics of wavesCharacteristics of waves

Watch this waveWatch this wave

*Watch the water droplet move in a vertical circle as the wave passes. The droplet moves forward with the wave's crest and backward with the trough.*

TidesTides

The daily rise and fall of Earth’s waters The daily rise and fall of Earth’s waters on its continents are called tides.on its continents are called tides.

Tides are caused by the interaction of Tides are caused by the interaction of Earth, the moon, and the sun.Earth, the moon, and the sun.

The gravitational pull of the moon The gravitational pull of the moon creates a bulge of water on the side of creates a bulge of water on the side of Earth that is facing the moon.Earth that is facing the moon.

Unlike surface waves, tides happen Unlike surface waves, tides happen regularly no matter how the wind regularly no matter how the wind blows.blows.

What causes the tides?What causes the tides?

The gravitational pull of The gravitational pull of the moon mostly, and the moon mostly, and the gravitational pull of the gravitational pull of the sun secondlythe sun secondly

What causes the tides?What causes the tides?

TidesTides

There are 2 high tides and 2 There are 2 high tides and 2 low tides each day……low tides each day……

Each high tide is about 12 Each high tide is about 12 hours apart and Each low tide hours apart and Each low tide is about 12 hours apart.is about 12 hours apart.

At high tide and low tideAt high tide and low tide

2 Types of Tides2 Types of Tides

Neap Tides-Neap Tides- Occur at the Occur at the first first and third quarter and third quarter moon, when the moon, when the sun, moon, and Earth are lined up to sun, moon, and Earth are lined up to form a right angleform a right angle

Spring Tides-Spring Tides- Occur when the Occur when the new and full moonnew and full moon, sun, and Earth , sun, and Earth are lined upare lined up

NEAP TIDE

Spring TIDE

CURRENTSCURRENTS Current- a large stream of moving Current- a large stream of moving

water that flows through the oceans.water that flows through the oceans.– Example: If you stir a cup of cocoa you Example: If you stir a cup of cocoa you

have created a currenthave created a current Surface currents, which affect water Surface currents, which affect water

to a depth of several hundred to a depth of several hundred meters, are driven mainly by winds.meters, are driven mainly by winds.

The surface currents follow the wind The surface currents follow the wind patterns of the globe, which are patterns of the globe, which are circular patterns, because of the circular patterns, because of the Earth’s rotation.Earth’s rotation.

CURRENTS, continuedCURRENTS, continued

The effect of Earth’s rotation on the The effect of Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents is direction of winds and currents is called the called the Coriolis effect.Coriolis effect.

Northern Hemisphere-currents curve Northern Hemisphere-currents curve to the rightto the right

Southern Hemisphere-currents curve Southern Hemisphere-currents curve to the leftto the left

Surface CurrentsSurface Currents– Influence climate of landInfluence climate of land– Warm water from the equator is Warm water from the equator is

spread to other places on Earthspread to other places on Earth (Example: Iceland is warmed by (Example: Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream that turns an area the Gulf Stream that turns an area that should be very cold to one with that should be very cold to one with a mild climate)a mild climate)

Types of Surface CurrentsTypes of Surface Currents– Gulf Stream current and North Gulf Stream current and North

Atlantic DriftAtlantic Drift are warm surface are warm surface currents that affect the climate of currents that affect the climate of landland

Affecting climate Affecting climate Surface currents warm or cool the air Surface currents warm or cool the air

above it affecting the climate in that above it affecting the climate in that location. location. – Climate- Climate- The weather in some location The weather in some location

averaged over a long period of timeaveraged over a long period of time Wind picks up moisture, so areas that Wind picks up moisture, so areas that

have warm surface currents tend to have warm surface currents tend to have rainier weather. Areas that have rainier weather. Areas that receive cold currents, tend to be drier, receive cold currents, tend to be drier, because cold air, holds less moisture. because cold air, holds less moisture.

Deep currentsDeep currentsAre caused by Are caused by differences in differences in

densitydensity, , not surface windsnot surface windsThe density of water The density of water

depends on depends on salinity and salinity and temperaturetemperature

Flow slower than surface Flow slower than surface currentscurrents

Deep currentsDeep currents

Warm water from the equator moves Warm water from the equator moves towards the poles and cools offtowards the poles and cools off

The water becomes dense and sinks The water becomes dense and sinks

The water then flows along the The water then flows along the ocean floor as a deep currentocean floor as a deep current

UpwellingUpwelling

An upward movement of cold An upward movement of cold water from the oceans depthswater from the oceans depths

Bring up tiny ocean Bring up tiny ocean organisms, minerals, and organisms, minerals, and other nutrientsother nutrients

El NinoEl Nino

An abnormal climate event An abnormal climate event that occurs every 2-7 that occurs every 2-7 years in the Pacific oceanyears in the Pacific ocean

It brings unusual patterns It brings unusual patterns of windsof winds

Ocean CurrentsOcean Currents