Currents
What causes most surface currents?
Wind
What is the highest point of a wave?
Crest
What is a tide?
The rhythmic rise and fall of surface waters in the oceans
What is the Coriolis effect?
Earth's rotation influences currents by a force
What is a gyre?
A large rotation of ocean waters caused by global winds and the Coriolis effect
How do currents move in the southern hemisphere?
Counterclockwise
What is a Tsunami?
A large wave created by a natural disaster such as an underwater earthquake, landslide, etc.
What kind of tide do the Gulf of Mexico and Vietnam experience?
Diurnal tide
What is Ekman Spiral?
How many major world gyres are there?
5
What causes deep ocean circulation?
Differences in density (water temperature and salinity) (thermohaline circulation)
What are disturbing forces?
Forces that create waves such as wind storms or seismic activity
What kind of tide does the West Coast of US experience?
Mixed tide
Ekman transport moves seawater about ____ to the right in the _________ Hemisphere.
90 degrees, Northern
What direction do gyres move in the northern hemisphere?
Right / Clockwise
What is upwelling?
Ocean waves are what type of wave?
Mechanical wave where water molecules move in an orbital motion
What kind of tide does the Eastern US experience?
Semidiurnal
What is El Nino?
A weather event that brings warm water to the West Coast of the US
Which direction do gyres move in the Southern Hemisphere?
Counterclockwise
How does ocean circulation affect world climate?
Ocean circulation is responsible for moving heat throughout the world and therefore determines climate.
How is wave speed calculated?
Wavelength x Frequency
A _______ _______ is when the ocean is pulled outward due to the moon and sun's gravitational pull on the Earth.
Tidal Bulge
What causes downwelling and why is it beneficial?
Downward movement of surface water into deeper layers of the ocean. Key component in keeping the ocean oxygenated.
How large is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Twice the size of Texas