Determine whether each phrase mainly describes surface ocean currents or deep ocean currents.

- influenced by rotation of Earth

- caused by differences in water

-found closer to the ocean floor

-caused by differences in water

density

- found near the top of the ocean

-caused by prevailing winds

Answer: This is What drives ocean currents

- Surface is primarily driven by wind (friction from wind transfers energy and momentum to surface water)

- Deep is slower, driven primarily by density (salinity and temperature) differences

- Thermocline: dramatic temp drop 50 m from surface bc sun can't shine

- Halocline: dramatic gradient in saline, increase as it deepens

- Pycnocline: resulting change in density (50-1000)

Earth rotation = Surface currents (coriolis effect)

Both temperature and difference in water density cause DEEP ocean currents

Near top is obviously surface ocean

Near ocean floor = Deep

and there isnt wind in the water is it? So Wind = Surface ocean