basic knowledge
what is a wind driven current?
a fast moving surface current that is caused my the friction between the ocean and the wind
Gulf Stream
a western boundary current, being warm, shallow, and fast that moves north up the east coast of North America
gyre
large circular motion of a current, found in each major ocean
sea ice
frozen patches of ice that freeze and melt in the ocean "pancake ice"
what is the Coriolis effect
the rotation of the earth's impact on the winds and temperatures which impact that movements of ocean currents
what is a density driven current?
a deep sea current that is driven by the tempature and salinity of water
California Current
cold, deep, slow eastern boundary current moving south along the west coast of the United States
name 5 subtropical gyres
North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian Ocean
shelf ice
ice that freezes on shore originally into the ocean within glaciers, and breaks off in larger chunks
what is pycnocline
rapid change of density in the ocean with depth
upwelling
the rise of cold, nutrient rich water to the surface and warm water going below surface level
Brazil Current
warm, fast, shallow western boundary current moving up the coast of South America, also part of the south Atlantic subtropical gyre
equatorial currents
move westward along the equator driven by trade winds
ice bergs
large thick floating masses of ice formed in polar locations
what is thermocline?
the temperatures of the ocean which circulate the density driven currents
downwelling
warm water that sinks below surface level
antarctic circumpolar current
a cold current driven by westerly winds around Antartica
equatorial countercurrents
move eastward between north and south equatorial currents
why are icebergs hazards
they are navigational hazards because of them ending up in shipping lanes.
Ex: titanic
what is the global conveyer-belt?
thermally driven and connected global ocean currents
what causes upwelling and what are its benefits
offshore winds and sea floor disruption cause upwelling, and upwelling provides nutrient rich wanter which is good for surface level ocean ecosystems as well as fishing
canary current
cold, slow, deep eastern boundary current flowing along the northwest coast of Africa
what is the difference between a eastern boundary current and western boundary current?
western : warm, fast, shallow, narrow and found off eastern ocean basins
eastern : cold, slow, deep, wide currents and found of western ocean basins
what direction are shelf ice carried by currents?
north
What would happen to thermocline if climate change impacted it?
The thermocline regulates and rotates temperatures globally, so if disrupted by climate change, places like Ireland or France in Europe could potentially become colder, while monsoon patterns could also change drastically