What three things cause surface currents?
Surface currents are controlled by three factors: global winds, the Coriolis effect, and continental deflections. surface create surface currents in the ocean. Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions. objects from a straight path due to the Earth's rotation.
What causes surface currents quizlet?
What causes surface currents to move? It is caused by wind action, Earth's spin, and the shape of the continents. Also, the speed, direction, and volume of water can be affected by the uneven heating of the atmosphere. The force of wind blowing over the top of the Earth.
What causes surface currents for kids?
Surface currents are caused mainly by wind blowing across the surface of the water and the friction causing waves. Deep water currents are caused by many things, such as temperature changes, salinity, gravity, and density. Deep water currents are also one factor in weather climates.
What causes surface currents and deep currents?
Deep currents are driven by temperature and water density/salinity. Of course, deep currents impact surface currents, which carry warm water to the poles. Surface currents are also driven by global wind systems fueled by energy from the sun. Factors like wind direction and the Coriolis effect play a role.
Where do surface ocean currents occur?
Surface ocean currents form large circular patterns called gyres. Gyres flow clockwise in Northern Hemisphere oceans and counterclockwise in Southern Hemisphere oceans because of the Coriolis Effect. creating surface ocean currents. Near the Earth's poles, gyres tend to flow in the opposite direction.
Whats a surface current?
(′sər·fəs ‚kə·rənt) (oceanography) Water movement which extends to depths of 3-10 feet (1-3 meters) below the surface in nearshore areas, and to about 33 feet (10 meters) in deep-ocean areas. Any current whose maximum velocity core is at or near the surface.
What is a surface current?
(′sər·fəs ‚kə·rənt) (oceanography) Water movement which extends to depths of 3-10 feet (1-3 meters) below the surface in nearshore areas, and to about 33 feet (10 meters) in deep-ocean areas. Any current whose maximum velocity core is at or near the surface.
Which factor causes surface ocean currents quizlet?
Wind direction, the spin of Earth, and differences in temperature contribute to currents. Currents occur at the surface of and deep within the ocean. The Coriolis effect contributes to the direction of current flow. Wind direction, the spin of Earth, and differences in temperature contribute to currents.
How do surface currents move?
Surface currents are powered by the sun and driven by the wind. The sun drives the global wind systems on Earth. When this wind blows over the surface of the ocean, it causes waves to form and the water at the surface to move. The force of the wind pushing on the water results in what are known as surface currents.
How are currents formed?
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.
What is a surface ocean current?
Ocean surface currents tend to form ring-like circulation systems called gyres. A gyre is a circular ocean current formed by a combination of the prevailing winds, the rotation of the Earth, and landmasses. Continents interfere with the movement of both surface winds and currents.
What causes ocean currents quizlet?
A directional movement of ocean water; surface currents result from steady winds over the ocean surface; deep ocean currents result from density variations due to temperature and salinity differences.
What is the main driving force of surface currents?
the wind The major driving force of surface currents is the wind. The winds that drive the Gulf Stream are the Westerlies. They blow in an eastwards direction and penetrate to a depth of approximately 200 metres, dragging the surface water at high velocity over a long distance.
What is a surface current quizlet?
surface currents. ocean currents that occur at or near the surface of the ocean, caused by wind.
What force generates surface ocean currents quizlet?
Wind is the primary driving force of surface currents. The Coriolis effect deflects the currents to the right (Northern Hemisphere) or left (Southern Hemisphere) of their path of motion (the prevailing wind direction).
What force generates surface ocean waves?
wind Waves are most commonly caused by wind. Wind-driven waves, or surface waves, are created by the friction between wind and surface water. As wind blows across the surface of the ocean or a lake, the continual disturbance creates a wave crest.
Which factor drives 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.