Weekly Blog: 4/4 - 4/10 Ocean Currents
Image:
Summary: We touched base on ocean currents last week, but this week we focused in on the relationship between ocean currents and wind circulation. When we compared two maps, one of ocean current patterns and one of wind circulation patterns, you could see that they flow in the same direction. Both wind and ocean currents travel in the same direction because ocean currents can be wind driven. Ocean currents are not only powered by wind, they can be driven by temperature, salinity, and density. If you looked closer at the ocean current patterns you could see that they travel in circles, or gyres. In the northern hemisphere the ocean currents flow in a clockwise gyre, while the ocean currents in the southern hemisphere moves in a counterclockwise circle. To understand why the ocean currents move in gyres we conducted an experiment. Ocean currents travel in circles because two winds flow in opposite directions of each other, but not clashing into each other. They flow either counterclockwise or clockwise depending on which hemisphere. The ocean currents curve when they hit land because ocean current do not go on land. This forms a gyre made of ocean currents. Wind circulation and ocean currents are very similar except that ocean currents cannot go on land.
S&EP-Using Models: We used models and maps to compare and contrast wind circulation patterns and ocean current patterns and to see how the ocean currents move. With both the maps of wind circulation and ocean currents side by side you could see that they flow our travel in the same general direction. This occurs because most ocean currents and powered by the wind. The big difference between the maps were that wind travels along land while ocean currents do not, which make perfect sense. We conducted an experiment by using a model. The mode was a foil tray with about a centimeter of water and parsley. Then, we blew through two straws on opposite sides. That modeled ocean current in the northern and southern hemisphere. That model showed that the wind flows past each hitting the "land masses", but water cant travel on land so it curves forming a gyre or circle. In both the model and maps you could see how the ocean currents and wind circulations move in gyres or loops. These helped me understand how ocean currents work and the similarities and differences between ocean current patterns and wind circulation patterns.
XCC-Cause and Effect: Ocean currents are driven by density, salinity, temperature, or wind. This week we looked closer on the cause and effect relationship between ocean currents and wind circulation. Looking at maps of ocean current patterns and wind circulation patterns you could see they were very similar and traveled in the same direction. Then I realized they flow in the same direction because wind circulation is one of the causes of ocean currents. The wind pushes the water, mostly on the surface, and it travel with the wind. Another cause and effect relationship I noticed was what causes ocean currents to move in gyres, or in a circular motion. We conducted an experiment and you could clearly see why ocean currents move in circles. We had a foil tray filled with about a centimeter of water and there were parsley leaves floating on the top. (The leaves were there so we could see the movement of the water better.) The ends of the tray represented land masses or the continents. We had two straw blowing from opposite side but not directly in front of each other. As the wind blew the water moved in the same direction, but when the water hit "land" it curved along the line. This formed a gyre, each wind contributing to one half of the circle.
Multiplier: This week I was a mutant, to be more specific a wanderer. This is because I shared any information I thought would be useful while learning and experimenting on ocean currents and wind circulation.
 |
Summary: We touched base on ocean currents last week, but this week we focused in on the relationship between ocean currents and wind circulation. When we compared two maps, one of ocean current patterns and one of wind circulation patterns, you could see that they flow in the same direction. Both wind and ocean currents travel in the same direction because ocean currents can be wind driven. Ocean currents are not only powered by wind, they can be driven by temperature, salinity, and density. If you looked closer at the ocean current patterns you could see that they travel in circles, or gyres. In the northern hemisphere the ocean currents flow in a clockwise gyre, while the ocean currents in the southern hemisphere moves in a counterclockwise circle. To understand why the ocean currents move in gyres we conducted an experiment. Ocean currents travel in circles because two winds flow in opposite directions of each other, but not clashing into each other. They flow either counterclockwise or clockwise depending on which hemisphere. The ocean currents curve when they hit land because ocean current do not go on land. This forms a gyre made of ocean currents. Wind circulation and ocean currents are very similar except that ocean currents cannot go on land.
S&EP-Using Models: We used models and maps to compare and contrast wind circulation patterns and ocean current patterns and to see how the ocean currents move. With both the maps of wind circulation and ocean currents side by side you could see that they flow our travel in the same general direction. This occurs because most ocean currents and powered by the wind. The big difference between the maps were that wind travels along land while ocean currents do not, which make perfect sense. We conducted an experiment by using a model. The mode was a foil tray with about a centimeter of water and parsley. Then, we blew through two straws on opposite sides. That modeled ocean current in the northern and southern hemisphere. That model showed that the wind flows past each hitting the "land masses", but water cant travel on land so it curves forming a gyre or circle. In both the model and maps you could see how the ocean currents and wind circulations move in gyres or loops. These helped me understand how ocean currents work and the similarities and differences between ocean current patterns and wind circulation patterns.
XCC-Cause and Effect: Ocean currents are driven by density, salinity, temperature, or wind. This week we looked closer on the cause and effect relationship between ocean currents and wind circulation. Looking at maps of ocean current patterns and wind circulation patterns you could see they were very similar and traveled in the same direction. Then I realized they flow in the same direction because wind circulation is one of the causes of ocean currents. The wind pushes the water, mostly on the surface, and it travel with the wind. Another cause and effect relationship I noticed was what causes ocean currents to move in gyres, or in a circular motion. We conducted an experiment and you could clearly see why ocean currents move in circles. We had a foil tray filled with about a centimeter of water and there were parsley leaves floating on the top. (The leaves were there so we could see the movement of the water better.) The ends of the tray represented land masses or the continents. We had two straw blowing from opposite side but not directly in front of each other. As the wind blew the water moved in the same direction, but when the water hit "land" it curved along the line. This formed a gyre, each wind contributing to one half of the circle.
Multiplier: This week I was a mutant, to be more specific a wanderer. This is because I shared any information I thought would be useful while learning and experimenting on ocean currents and wind circulation.
Comments
Post a Comment