How are ocean currents and global winds related?
In the Northern Hemisphere, for example, predictable winds called trade winds blow from east to west just above the equator. The winds pull surface water with them, creating currents. As these currents flow westward, the Coriolis effect—a force that results from the rotation of the Earth—deflects them.
How are wind and ocean currents similar?
Ocean currents mimic these winds due to the frictional stress between the ocean and the winds and causes the water to move in the direction of the winds. These large scale surface ocean currents respond to the movement of the atmosphere and the flow of energy from the tropics to the poles.
What is the relationship between global winds and global ocean currents quizlet?
Global winds drive the surface currents, the winds deflect the currents.
What do you notice about the global wind and surface current patterns?
What do you notice about the global wind and surface current patterns? In general, the direction of the wind flows in the same direction as the ocean surface currents. The global winds in the first map generally travel in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
What causes surface ocean currents?
Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the Sun. Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earth's rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents.
What are global winds?
Global Winds. Global winds are winds that occur in belts that go all around the planet (Figure below). Like local winds, global winds are caused by unequal heating of the atmosphere. (Figure 2) Global winds occur in belts around the globe.
What are surface currents?
Surface currents are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. These currents bring heat from the tropics to the polar regions; the Gulf Stream, for instance, brings warm water along the eastern coast of the US up to Northern Europe.
How does convection cause surface ocean currents?
During convection, cooler water or air sinks, and warmer water or air rises. This movement causes currents. Ocean currents are like rivers of water moving through the sea. Some currents are caused by convection, while others, called surface currents, are driven by wind.
What is the relationship between climate and oceans?
The oceans also regulate the global climate; they mediate temperature and drive the weather, determining rainfall, droughts, and floods. They are also the world's largest store of carbon, where an estimated 83% of the global carbon cycle is circulated through marine waters.
How are wind and ocean currents similar in their effect on climate?
Ocean and wind currents are formed by a process known as convection. Both convection and pressure affect the flow of water and air. As air and water currents move from one area to another, they affect the general climate of the area they are moving into.
What do you notice about the global wind and surface current patterns in general the direction of the wind flows in the direction as the ocean surface currents?
What do you notice about the global wind and surface current patterns? In general, the direction of the wind flows in the same direction as the ocean surface currents. The global winds in the first map generally travel in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
What is surface ocean currents?
Surface currents are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. These currents bring heat from the tropics to the polar regions; the Gulf Stream, for instance, brings warm water along the eastern coast of the US up to Northern Europe.
What causes wind currents?
Temperature differences can cause air currents because warmer air is less dense than cooler air, causing the warmer air to appear "lighter." Thus, if the warm air is under the cool air, air currents will form as they exchange places. Air currents are caused because of the uneven heating of Earth's surface.
What causes global winds?
Global winds are winds that occur in belts that go all around the planet (Figure below). Like local winds, global winds are caused by unequal heating of the atmosphere. Global winds occur in belts around the globe.
How global wind are formed?
Large global wind systems are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface. These global wind systems, in turn, drive the oceans' surface currents.
What winds drive ocean currents?
Prevailing winds are examples of prolonged winds that produce large-scale ocean basin currents. The simplified map in Fig. 3.13 shows the surface winds that flow from regions of high atmospheric pressure over the world's oceans. These are winds that drive the system of surface currents in the ocean.
What causes a surface current?
Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the Sun. Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earth's rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents.
How are convection currents related to wind?
It is this movement that creates circulation patterns known as convection currents in the atmosphere, in water, and in the mantle of Earth. In the atmosphere, as air warms it rises, allowing cooler air to flow in underneath. Along with the turning of the Earth, this movement of air creates winds.
How do ocean currents regulate global climate?
Ocean currents act much like a conveyer belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Thus, currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth's surface.
What effect do global winds have on climate?
The global atmospheric circulation pattern is determined by temperature differences, especially the difference between heating at the equator and the poles, and by the Earth's rotation. Winds shape regional climate and influence daily weather by transporting heat and water.
How does global winds affect climate?
The global atmospheric circulation pattern is determined by temperature differences, especially the difference between heating at the equator and the poles, and by the Earth's rotation. Winds shape regional climate and influence daily weather by transporting heat and water.
What is the relationship between ocean currents and convection currents?
During convection, cooler water or air sinks, and warmer water or air rises. This movement causes currents. Ocean currents are like rivers of water moving through the sea. Some currents are caused by convection, while others, called surface currents, are driven by wind.
What causes ocean currents?
Ocean currents can be caused by wind, density differences in water masses caused by temperature and salinity variations, gravity, and events such as earthquakes or storms. Currents are cohesive streams of seawater that circulate through the ocean.
Why do global winds move in convection currents?
Heating and Global Winds Earth is hottest at the equator and gets cooler toward the poles. The differences in heating create huge convection currents in the troposphere. At the equator, for example, warm air rises up to the tropopause. It can't rise any higher, so it flows north or south.
What are the global wind currents?
The Earth contains five major wind zones: polar easterlies, westerlies, horse latitudes, trade winds, and the doldrums. Polar easterlies are dry, cold prevailing winds that blow from the east. They emanate from the polar highs, areas of high pressure around the North and South Poles.
What causes ocean surface currents?
Winds, water density, and tides all drive ocean currents. Coastal and sea floor features influence their location, direction, and speed. Earth's rotation results in the Coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents.
What causes surface ocean current?
Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earth's rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents.
Why do global winds move in convection currents around Earth?
Heating and Global Winds Earth is hottest at the equator and gets cooler toward the poles. The differences in heating create huge convection currents in the troposphere. At the equator, for example, warm air rises up to the tropopause. When it can't rise any higher, it flows north or south.
How does convection cause ocean currents?
During convection, cooler water or air sinks, and warmer water or air rises. This movement causes currents. Ocean currents are like rivers of water moving through the sea. Some currents are caused by convection, while others, called surface currents, are driven by wind.
How do global winds and ocean currents affect climate?
Ocean currents act much like a conveyer belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Thus, currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth's surface.