FINAL JEOPARDY
Eastern boundary currents: southward slow flowing branches of subtropical gyres; most biologically productive currents in the world
-- upwelling: cold deep nutrient rich water rising to surface due to ekman transport & coasts being aligned with prevailing winds
-- equatorward pushes surface water to the WEST (away from coast) bc of coriolis force & to replace the water that flows away, deeper water must move up
-- gradient in SSH (low near coast and high in open ocean) creates a jet that becomes unstable and moves cold water and biological production offshore
-- 4 main currents
Western boundary currents: climate/heat regulation; fastest currents in the world
-- balance between coriolis and pressure gradient exists because of the temperature differences between the coast and offshore
-- carries warm waters NORTH along east coasts of continents
-- warm water reaches high latitudes and loses a lot of its heat --> sinks and feeds deep cold water circulation
-- 4 deep water formation points in the world