Deep Currents

Predictions!
With your table, decide what is more DENSE ...
Cold water or room temperature water?
Fresh water or salt water?

Write your names on 2 stick note and stick them in the correct
column on the board

Facts:

The current is about 100 km wide (about 62 miles wide)

The current is about 1.5 km wide (about 500 FEET)
The current can move up to 7 km/hour (about 4.3 mph)

Causes of Deep Currents

Deep ocean
currents are
caused when
water in the
ocean becomes
more dense.

D=m/v
D=

Density is affected by
Temperature
measure of how hot
or cold something is
measure of the
energy of particles
in an object

Salinity
A measure of the
amounts of salts in
a liquid

Checkpoint!
What 2 factors affect the density of
water?
Temperature & salinity

Temperature
measure of how hot or cold something is
measure of the energy of particles in an object

Temperature
A DECREASE () in temperature = an INCREASE
() in density
So.Colder water is more dense

Temperature - in temperature =
in density
Why??
When water gets
cold, water
molecules low
down and move
close together, and

Temperature
Cold water forms
near the poles
Cold water becomes
MORE dense.
Denser water sinks
& travels toward the
equator

Checkpoint!
Which is more dense warm water or cold
water?

Colder water

Salinity
A measure of the amounts of salts in a
liquid

Salinity
An INCREASE () in salinity= an INCREASE () in
density
So.saltier water is more dense

Salinity increases from 2 reasons

Freezing
When ocean water freezes,
only the freshwater freezes.
The salt is squeezed out
mixes into the ocean water.
The is common in cold
climates near the pole.

When ocean water

Evaporation
evaporations, only the
freshwater evaporates.
The salt is left behind
to mix into the ocean
water.
The is common in
warm climates near

Checkpoint!
What are the 2 reasons the salinity of a
water can change?
Freezing, evaporation

Closing 2/23
Name
Finish the sentence:

Deep currents are caused by