Ocean Currents

Front 1

be able to describe an Ekman spiral and its significance

Back 1

Ekman's spiral describes the direction of water flow in relation to wind direction. Due to the corialis effect, water transport is 45 degrees to wind direction, which continues down eckman's spiral as depth increase. Net transport of water in relationship to wind direction is 90 degrees.

Front 2

what is the surface current direction relative to the wind in the Northern hemisphere? Southern?

Back 2

-In the Northern Hemisphere, surface ocean currents moves 45 degrees to the right of wind direction.
-In the Southern Hemisphere, ocean currents move 45 degrees to the left of wind direction.

Front 3

-what is the direction of net transport of water driven by wind in the Northern hemisphere? Southern?

Back 3

-In the northern hemisphere, Net transport is 90 degrees to the right
-In the southern hemisphere, net transport is 90 degrees to the left

Front 4

-Describe how the major ocean gyres and convergences are formed in the Northern hemisphere from the major winds, their directions, the effects on surface water
transport, and interaction with the Coriolis forces

Back 4

-The major ocean gyres are formed by wind driven currents in which eckman transport drives water towards the center of the gyre (convergence) As a result of continental boundaries.
-In the northen hemisphere, the coriolis effect drives the westerlies and north trade winds to move clockwise, causing eckman transport to move towards the right

Front 5

What is geostrophic flow? Be able to draw the five major gyres (directions of flow)

Back 5

-Geostropic flow describes the movement of water around the created gyres at angles parallel to its elevation contours.
-it is created when the force of the coriolis effect of water moving inward is balanced by the force of gravity.

Front 6

-what are western boundary currents and western intensification?

Back 6

-Western boundary currents are the currents that exist on the western side of the gyre.
-Western intensification describes the elevated strength of currents on the western boundary caused by the increasing strength of the coriolis force.
-as latitude increases, coriolis force also increases. That being said, in the Northern hemisphere with the coriolis force driving winds clockwise, wind speeds increase on the western side, where latitude increase. Wind speeds decrease on the eastern side where elevation is decreasing.

Front 7

Why does water form a “hill” in the dgyres and how is the hill located (i.e.in the center?)?

Back 7

-The hill formed by gyres are a result of eckman transport.
-The hill is not located in the center due to western intensification, and is actually offset towards the western boundary.