Ocean Currents Data Table
Name of
current
Gulf
Stream
California
Canary
Peru
Brazil
Kuroshio
W.Australia
E. Australia
Benguela
Agulhas
Ocean Basin
Location in
General
(Atlantic/Pacific/Indian)
Ocean
Temperature
Basin
(warm/cold)
(East/West)
Atlantic
West
Warm
Flow
Direction
Relative to
Equator
(toward/away
from)
Away
Pacific
Atlantic
Pacific
Atlantic
Pacific
Indian
Pacific
Atlantic
Indian
East
East
East
West
West
East
West
East
West
Cold
Cold
Cold
Warm
Warm
Cold
Warm
Cold
Warm
Toward
Toward
Toward
Away
Away
Toward
Away
Toward
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).