4 Ocean Circulation Free Online FlashCards

What does ocean circulation redistribute?

Ocean circulation moves seawater through the surface and deep ocean, redistributing heat, salt, oxygen, and nutrients and influencing climate.

How do prevailing winds drive surface currents?

Prevailing winds transfer momentum to the sea surface, driving much of the upper-ocean circulation.

How does the Coriolis effect deflect ocean water?

Earth’s rotation deflects moving water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere; the effect is weakest at the equator.

How do temperature and salinity affect seawater density?

Colder or saltier seawater is generally denser than warmer or fresher seawater, and density contrasts can drive sinking, spreading, and rising flows.

Where are the five major subtropical gyres?

There are five major subtropical gyres, in the North and South Atlantic, North and South Pacific, and Indian Ocean.

Which way do subtropical gyres generally rotate?

Subtropical gyres generally rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

How do western and eastern boundary currents differ?

A gyre’s western boundary current is typically narrow and fast, while its eastern boundary current is broader and slower.

What is the direction and connecting role of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current?

It flows eastward around Antarctica and connects the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific sectors of the Southern Ocean.

How can sea-ice formation make nearby seawater denser?

When sea ice forms, much of the salt remains in the surrounding water, increasing its salinity and density.

What is a water mass?

A water mass is a body of seawater with recognizable properties, especially temperature and salinity, that help identify where it formed and how it moved.

What is the origin and deep-ocean direction of North Atlantic Deep Water?

North Atlantic Deep Water is dense water formed in the North Atlantic that flows southward at depth.

How does Antarctic Bottom Water spread through the ocean?

Antarctic Bottom Water is very dense water formed near Antarctica that spreads along the seafloor and into ocean basins.