EARTH SCIENCE
Grade
________/_________
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
Name:
Date:
Period:
CATALYST
1.)
2.)
3.)
OBJECTIVE
SWBAT identify the source of ocean currents and label cold and warm water ocean currents on a global map
Criteria For Success (CFS)
Students will receive a minimum score of an 80% on the exit ticket
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
1
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
The above picture is taken from a street in England. This location has a latitude of 51.5 North,
yet palm trees are usually known to grow only in very warm climates. How is this possible?
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
2
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
EARTH SCIENCE
Reading – Ocean Currents:
Surface temperatures vary considerably with latitude: warmer near the equator and colder near the
poles. The sinking of cold water at the poles must be balanced by upwelling that brings deep water
back to the surface. Cold water can hold more oxygen and support more marine life than warm
water. For this reason, upwelling, cold currents commonly bring nutrients to the surface in some
of the world’s best fishing grounds.
The circulation of surface water follows the prevailing winds. Both are affected by Earth’s
rotation. Winds and ocean currents generally curve as they travel long distances over Earth’s
surface. This curvature is called the Coriolis effect. Actually, the winds and ocean currents are
going as straight as they can, but Earth’s rotation makes them appear to curve to the right in the
Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
CFU: What causes ocean currents? How do they form?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Your ESRT has a map of the world showing the most common surface current directions. Notice
that most of the currents in the North Atlantic follow a circular path curving constantly to the
right in a great clockwise circle. The currents in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean also follow
this clockwise (to the right) pattern. Currents in the South Atlantic and southern parts of the
Pacific Ocean curve to the left in a counterclockwise pattern.
Currents and Climate:
Ocean currents influence the climates of coastal locations. The temperature of ocean water does
not change as quickly as the temperature of rock and soil. Therefore, coastal locations usually have
a smaller range of temperature than do inland locations. Cold and warm currents also affect
coastal temperatures. For example, people who live along the coast of California are not as likely
to swim in the ocean as people who live along the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic coastline of the
United States. Cold ocean currents along the California coast keep the water temperature too chilly
for most swimmers, even in the summer. The cool ocean water also prevents summer
temperatures from getting too hot along the coast of southern California.
CFU: Why do coastal areas have smaller temperature ranges than inland locations?
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
3
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The climate along the southern coast of Alaska is moderated by relatively warm ocean water.
Summer and winter temperatures are relatively mild in this part of Alaska. Palm trees grow in
some areas along the west coast of Great Britain where the warm currents of the Gulf Stream and
the North Atlantic Current moderate winter temperatures. These coastal locations have winters far
less severe than central European cities that are far from the ocean. By looking at the arrows on
Your ESRT can tell you where warm or cool ocean currents affect coastal areas. The black arrows
show warm currents and the white arrows show cool currents.
CFU: What latitudes do warm ocean currents originate from? Cool ocean currents?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
4
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
EARTH SCIENCE
Climate Graph: New York City, New York
Climate Graph: San Francisco, California
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
5
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
What do you notice about the difference in temperature between San Francisco and New York?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Why do you think NYC gets hotter in the summer, while San Francisco stays relatively cool?
(Note: They are both near bodies of water)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Fill in the appropriate blanks here:
Generally, areas close to large bodies of water will have _________________ summers and
_________________ winters than their corresponding inland locations at the same latitude and
elevation. This is due to water’s ________ specific heat.
What causes ocean currents to form?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
6
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
Question(s):
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
7
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
5.)
6.)
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
8
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
7.)
8.)
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
9
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
9.)
11.)
12.)
Answer: _____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
10
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
Base your answers to questions 13-14 on the two images below. Map I shows Australia’s major
landscape regions. Letters A through H represent locations in Australia. Map II shows Australia’s
climate regions.
13.)
14.)
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
11
EARTH SCIENCE
Exit Ticket Grade
_______/_______
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
Name:
Date:
Cohort:
Exit Ticket
1.)
2.)
3.)
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
12
EARTH SCIENCE
6.6 (OCEAN CURRENTS) • CLIMATE
4.)
Regents Earth Science
9th GRADE
13