The Motion Of The Ocean
All About The Ocean
Currents
Currents are created by wind, density differences in water masses caused by temperature and salinity variations, gravity, and events such as earthquakes.
Deep Water Currents
Deep water currents flow under the surface of the ocean and are hidden from immediate detection.
Southern Hemisphere Currents
Ocean Currents
Northern Hemisphere Currents
Gyres
Gyres are a large system of rotating currents, mostly those who are involved with large wind movements. Gyres occur in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Southern Hemisphere
Western/Eastern Ocean Boundary Currents
Surface currents located on the western side of the subtropical gyres atre faster than their Eastern counterparts. Both Western and Eastern ocean boundary currents are among the fastest surface currents in the world.
Counter Currents/ Upwelling/ Downwelling
Counter currents flow on the surface in the opposite direction from the main currents. Upwelling is the upward motion of water, this motion brings cold, nutrient rich water to the surface. Downwelling is the downward motion of water, it supplies the deeper ocean with dissolved gasses.
Heat Transport/ Climate
Heat transport is the exchange of thermal energy between physical systems, depending on the temperature and pressure by dissolving heat. Climate is the weather conditions in an area for a long time.
Deep Water Currents
Deep water currents are caused by density and temperature. These currents flow underneath the surface of the ocean and are hidden from immediate detection.
Studying Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are continuous detected movement of seawater generated by forces upon the mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, the coriolis effect, caballing temperature and salinity differences, while tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon.
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The ENSO is an irregularly periodical climate change caused by variations in sea surface temperatures over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting much of the tropics and subtropics.