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RESOURCES
This NOAA video starts by introducing what currents are and how some are small and quick, while others take 1,000 years to complete. It discusses what causes currents. This video also explains the Coriolis effect and gyres.
This National Geographic Sites website explains what a gyre is and how it happens. It explains individual gyres and the currents that make up the gyre. It also talks about the impact of debris that end up in gyres.
This video shows all of the gyres and discusses the direction the water flows. It takes a look at the winds that cause the water to flow in a particular direction. The video discusses that the easiest way to see the currents is to follow flotsam in the ocean.
The NOAA website defines what a turbidity current is and how they are set into motion. It also explains what turbidity means. The website discusses how scientists measure turbidity.
This video clearly explains a turbidity current. It shows laboratory-created demonstrations of a turbidity current. The demonstrations show what currents will do going down a slope, into an open basin, and moving into an open basin around an object.
The NOAA website explains what is happening when an upwelling occurs. It also points out the opposite of upwelling—“downwelling”—and what is happening during that process. It talks about the water being colder and rich in nutrients when an upwelling happens.
The Surfer Today website explains rip current, undertow, and rip tide. The website discusses the dangers of each one and their causes.
This Ripcurrents2011 video describes undertow and rip currents. It explains that rip currents are hard to identify from the beach. The video explains how to escape a rip current.
The World Landforms website gives the three main characteristics of a sandbar. The website states how sandbars are formed and names famous sandbars or barrier islands. It also talks about why sandbars can be dangerous.
The video quickly describes what a sandbar is and what makes it. It also states the hazards associated with sandbars for boats and ends by repeating what a sandbar is.
The NOAA website explains tidal current. It also explains what is meant by “flood” and “ebb” for tidal currents. An animation in the middle of the page shows the “flood” and “ebb” of the current.
This NOAA video talks about why there are currents in the ocean. It starts by talking about tidal currents in general. It shows the way currents move all over the world by wind. The video completes by stating tides, wind, and heat/salinity all put the motion in the ocean.
The Web Ecoist website explains what a whirlpool is and what makes a whirlpool classified as a maelstrom. It also continues to show ten whirlpools that are classified as maelstroms and describes each one.
This video explains what whirlpools are and how they form. It lists the five largest whirlpools and points out how Hollywood fabricates fantasy about whirlpools when they are not as large or as strong in reality.
The NOAA website explains what a longshore current is and how it is made using graphics and a small slide show.
This LearnCoastalErosion video goes through the structures that are used to slow down coastal erosion. It shows and talks about both groins and jetties. It talks about the intention and issues with each of the structures.