Ocean Currents and Tides

Ocean Currents

1.Currents- This is the transfer of water from one place to another. What generates this process of motion is the air pushing the ocean's surface. Winds catch onto waves and ripples pushing them along. Currents can be reliable upon the temperature and weather as well, such as the temperature from the water at the equator and water from further North and South. This is where the word “gyre” comes into play, when the water moves in a circular motion. In the Northern hemisphere, the water moves in a counter-clockwise motion, and vice versa in Southern Hemisphere. Another factor contributing to currents and their flows is the “salinity” or saltiness of the water, this can make denser water flow in waves.


2.Peru Current on the Coast of Chile: The waves here generate an abundance of fish to live and spawn there, thus making up 18-20 % of the fishing market. The current temperatures here are also quite moderate, not too warm but still allowing some cooler areas.



Gulf Stream on the weather conditions in Newfoundland: Warmer surface waters always seems to move into colder areas. Just like the Labrador current off the coast of Eastern Canada, which is a strong current of warm water that has mixed with colder water. Without currents like these, the earth's sea temperatures would not be regulated and hot latitudes would be much warmer, as well as cold areas MUCH colder.


Tides

1.Causes: Tides are influenced by the gravitational pull of the sun, but more so the pull of the moon. When night falls and the moon is high, the water from the sea is being pulled towards one side of the earth- resulting in a high tide. As the moon rotates around the earth, (in a day) the ocean water is being pulled with it. A spring tide can occur when both the sun and the moon are influencing the tide. A neap tide is when the sun and the moon are pulling at the ocean from opposite directions.




2. How are Tides Beneficial?
Fish is a nutritious food used in many cultures
Marine life- whales, sharks etc can be used for many things. Medicinal purposes, food..
Tides can be helpful to boats as a mean of transportation
Water turbines use tides and currents for electricity.