How does wind affect surface currents?
Friction between air and ocean surface
Explain fetch affecting currents
Uninterpreted distance wind travels, a longer fetch —> larger waves develop into currents
Explain speed of wind affecting currents
The rate at which air is moving horizontally, fast wind affecting—> large persistent waves in one direction —> currents
How do continents affect currents?
Rhe shake and location can redirect them (gulf of Mexico creates a loop, straight of Gibraltar causes water to speed up)
Explain how earths rotation affects currents;
Rotation makes the equator move faster than the poles, creates coriolis effect, coriolis effect creates ekman spiral
Explain how earths rotation effects effects poles and equator
Locations on the equator move faster than those on the poles, the equator had greater velocity compared to those at higher altitudes
Explain earths rotation and the coriolis effect
The coriolis effects is a result of the earths rotation. It causes the ocean and air to be deflected:
to the right in northern hemisphere
To the left in southern hemisphere
Explain earths rotation and ekman spiral
Water does not travel in the direction of the wind, water travels 90 degrees from direction of wind
Each layer of water loves at a 45 degree angle from layer above it
This continues to a depth of 100m
Convinced there is a net movement jf 99 degrees right of win
Explain how surface currents influence heat distribution
They transport heat from the equator towards the poles, and transport cooler water towards the equator
Explain surface currents effects on climate regulation
Water heats slowly and cools slowly, keeping coastal climates mild
Explain if surface currents influence weather
They contribute to the formation of weather systems, leading to droughts, floods, and altered precipitation
Explain how surface current influences nutrient transport
It transports nutrients in the oceans horizontally and vertically (upwelling brings nutrient rich water to surface)
Explain the Influence of surface currents on ecosystems
They transport nutrients, larvae, and organisms
(Ex: coral larvae dispersed through currents, migration patterns of marine organisms)
Explain currents influence on waste transport
They transport degree, waste, and pollutants (ex: rhe pacific garbage patch extends horizontally & vertically into ocean)
Explain how surface currents affect the formation of gyres
The circular ocean currents are created by winds and coriolis effect
How to measure currents
Speed, temperature, direction, volume of water
What units are currents measured in
Velocity - speed in a direction (ex: km/hr)
Explain the Gulf Stream:
Large, warm, swift current that has a warming effect on the east coast of North America and Europe e
Explain the Labrador current
Cool water sinks, pushing oxygen rich water into deep ocean, cools NE regions of Canada and USA
Explain the Antarctic circumpolar current
ACC or west wind current is the largest ocean current, it’s slowly, cold, and flows around the globe without being diverted by land
Winter monsoons
Land cools down, air becomes denser, high pressure forms. Winds blow from land toward the ocean
Summer monsoons
Land becomes very hot and air rises, creating low pressure, allowing moist air from the ocean to move inland and being heavy rain
Speed of currents depends on (all five)
Wind speed, wind duration, fetch, earths rotation, the shape of coastlines
What is land and sea breezes?
During the day, land becomes warmer than sea + warm air rises over land. Cooler air from above the sea moves to land (sea breeze)
At night, land cools faster. Air rises over warmer seas and cool air moves towards ocean (sea breeze)
