Question

Ocean Movement Assignment

1) Use the diagram of the ocean currents to answer the questions.
North Pacific
Ocean
LG
South Pacific
Ocean
North Atlantic
Ocean
Arctic Ocean
South Atlantic
Ocean
Southern Ocean
Indian Ocean
North Pacific
Ocean
a) How does the direction of the currents in the Northern Hemisphere differ from those in
the Southern Hemisphere? Why does this occur?
b) How do the warm ocean currents flow in relation to the Equator? How do the cold
currents flow in relation to the Equator?

Answer 1

a) The direction of the currents in the Northern Hemisphere is clockwise, while the direction of the currents in the Southern Hemisphere is counterclockwise. This occurs due to the Coriolis effect, which is a result of the Earth's rotation. The Coriolis effect causes the currents to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

b) Warm ocean currents generally flow from the tropics towards the poles and are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect. Cold ocean currents generally flow from the poles towards the equator and are deflected to the right in the Southern Hemisphere and to the left in the Northern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect.