Monday, April 19, 2010

Ocean Currents

Last week in science class, we learned about ocean currents. Ocean currents are vertical and horizontal movements of both deep and surface water throughout the worlds oceans. Did you know they usually move in a specific direction, and help significantly to circulate the earths moisture, weather, and pollution?

Ocean currents are found all over the world, and vary in size, importance, and strength.

Surface currents are those found in the upper 400 meters (1,300 feet) of the ocean and make up about 10% of all the water in the ocean. Surface currents are mostly caused by the wind, because it creates friction as it moves over the water, and creates a spiral pattern, called gyres.

Did you know that gyres in the northern hemisphere spin clockwise, and gyres in the southern hemisphere spin counterclockwise? I wonder what would happen if they spun into each other. Would they create one huge gyre, or would they wear each other out till there was nothing left of either of them?

2 comments:

  1. that is a relly good post its much bigger better than mine what ocean has the stongest current(you dont have to answer)

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  2. Hi Michelle,

    Where is your immune system post? As to your other posts, I like your simple paragraphs and good explanations in the conversational tone. Well done.

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