Notes Activity

Background: We know that surface currents are caused by global winds. Today you will be labeling both the Earth’s global wind belts and the large circular surface ocean currents, called gyres.

Below you will find directions for labeling maps along with various questions related to global wind belts and ocean surface currents. Keep in mind that this document will be your notes for this section. WRITE THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS.

Part 1: Global Winds-

  1. The Earth’s rotation causes global winds to deflect and flow in specific ways. What is the name of this effect? Explain how it works. Make sure to be specific and provide the direction of flow for both the Northern and the Southern hemispheres.
  1. The following is a list of large convection cells that occur in the Earth’s atmosphere. These “cells” are shown on the picture above. Label these cells in the boxes to the right of the picture above according to the latitudes listed below. All 2 occur in the northern AND southern hemispheres.
  • HADLEY CELL-warm air rises at the equator (0o) and cools/sinks as it approaches 30o latitude
  • FERRELL CELL-warm air rises at 60olatitude and cools/sinks as it approaches 30o latitude
  • POLAR CELL-warm air rises at 60olatitude and cools/sinks as it approaches the poles
  1. The picture above shows the winds that blow along the Earth’s surface at different latitudes. On your WIND BELTS map, draw in the wind belts from the glove above and label their names. (eg. SE Trade Winds, Westerlies, Polar Easterlies, etc.)
  1. Look at the convection cells on the globe above. What seems to be forming along the equator as the winds converge and rise? (Warm, moist air rising creates…?) Explain why this makes sense considering the conditions you’d expect to find in tropical environments.
  1. What is a surface current? What three factors control the flow of surface currents?
  1. Large circular surface currents of water within the ocean are called ocean gyres. Using the map on the other side of your global winds map, label the 5 main ocean gyres listed below. While the book does not name them, you can see them in Figure 6. Draw the warm currents red and the colder currents blue.
  • North Atlantic Gyre
  • South Atlantic Gyre
  • North Pacific Gyre
  • South Pacific Gyre
  • Indian Ocean Gyre
  1. On the same map, label the names of the four currents associated with the North Atlantic Gyre.
  1. What is a deep ocean current?
  1. Summarize the three different ways deep ocean currents form. Provide the name for each and explain the factors in your own words.
  1. Explain how and why water at the surface near the North Pole (in the Atlantic) would sink.
  1. What eventually happens to the water that sinks at the poles? Where does it end up? Why?

Density / Describe the molecules / Influence on Climate / Does this current sink or rise? / Where does this current sink or rise?
Warm surface Current
Cold Surface Current