Name of current Ocean Basin (Atlantic/Pacific/Indian)



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Ocean Currents Data Table

Name of current

Ocean Basin

(Atlantic/Pacific/Indian)

Location in

Ocean Basin

(East/West)


General

Temperature

(warm/cold)

Flow Direction Relative to Equator

(toward/away from)

Gulf Stream

Atlantic

West

Warm

Away

California

Pacific

East

Cold

Toward__Canary__Atlantic__East'>Toward

Canary

Atlantic

East

Cold

Toward

Peru

Pacific

East

Cold

Toward

Brazil

Atlantic

West

Warm

Away

Kuroshio

Pacific

West

Warm

Away

W.Australia

Indian

East

Cold

Toward

E. Australia

Pacific

West

Warm

Away

Benguela

Atlantic

East

Cold

Toward

Agulhas

Indian

West

Warm

Away


Analysis and Conclusion

1. Based on the data table, what is the relationship between the temperature of an ocean current and the direction of current flow relative to the equator? Explain why this relationship exists.



Warm currents move away from the Equator because they are moving water that’s been heating up under the hot sun at the Equator. Cold Currents move towards the Equator and they are cold because the source of water is from an area that has less sunlight and is colder.

2. What is the general relationship between a current’s temperature and the side of the ocean on which that current flows



The currents on the West side of an ocean basin are warm currents and the currents on the East side of an ocean basin are cold currents.
3. Along the east coast of a continent, what is the general relationship between a current’s temperature and the direction of its flow? What is the general relationship along the west coast of a continent?

The East Currents are Cold currents that are moving towards the Equator.

The West Currents are Warm currents that are moving away from the Equator
4. In what direction, clockwise of counterclockwise, do the major circulation patterns rotate in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres? Why does each hemisphere have a different pattern?

The Northern Hemisphere is circulating Clockwise and the Southern Hemisphere is circulating Counter Clockwise. Each hemisphere has a different pattern because of the effect of the Coriolis Effect. The Coriolis effect is to the right (clockwise) in the northern hemisphere & to the left (counterclockwise) in the southern hemisphere.


5. Compare your tracing paper to the Global Ocean Currents map. Observe the prevailing winds and currents in the Northern Hemisphere. In general, do the currents flow to the left or to the right of the prevailing wind direction? What effect could cause this deflection?

In general, the Currents flow to the right of the prevailing wind direction. This effect is caused by the spin of the earth (coriolis)
6. In the Southern Hemisphere, do the currents flow to the left or to the right of the prevailing wind direction? What effect could cause this deflection?

The currents in the Southern hemisphere flow to the left of the prevailing wids. This effect is caused by the spin of the earth (coriolis)


7. Which prevailing winds are most likely responsible for driving the West Winds Drift? Why odes this current travel in nearly a straight path around Earth?

The Southern hemispheres westerlies drive the west wind drift- this current travels in nearly a straight path because there are no continents to deflect it. They continuously turn to the left of the westerlies (which keep them moving in the same general direction).

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