Ocean current that is moving toward the equator is cold. The windblown surface currents distribute heat all over the globe through moving the water which is warm away from the equator and the cool water will replace which is from the north and south poles.Dec 1, 2019
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What are ocean currents that move towards the poles?
The remaining air (air that does not descend at 30 degrees North or South latitude) continues toward the poles and is known as the westerly winds, or westerlies. The trade winds are so named because ships have historically taken advantage of them to aid their journies between Europe and the Americas (Bowditch, 1995).
Which currents flow towards the equator?
The South Equatorial Current are ocean currents in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean that flow east-to-west between the equator and about 20 degrees south. In the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, it extends across the equator to about 5 degrees north.
How do ocean currents move within the Ocean?
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. … These currents move water masses through the deep ocean—taking nutrients, oxygen, and heat with them.
What are the 5 major ocean currents?
There are five major gyres: the North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, the North Pacific, the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean Gyre, see figure 1. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is situated in the Southern Ocean and constantly circles around Antarctica because there are no land masses to interrupt the currents.
Why does warm water move away from the equator?
Surface currents play a large role in determining climate. These currents bring warm water from the equator to cooler parts of the ocean; they transfer heat energy. … The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that transports warm water from the equator past the east coast of North America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
Why does water flow in different directions?
The Coriolis force is simply too weak to affect such small bodies of water. … The Coriolis force is caused by the earth’s rotation. It is responsible for air being pulled to the right (counterclockwise) in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left (clockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere.
Why is there upwelling at the equator?
Upwelling is a result of winds and the rotation of the Earth. The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. … The Coriolis effect also causes upwelling in the open ocean near the Equator. Trade winds at the Equator blow surface water both north and south, allowing upwelling of deeper water.
How do ocean currents affect humans?
Ocean currents regulate climate and prevent it from becoming overly extreme. People have used ocean currents to explore the Earth. Ocean currents affect the shipping industry, commercial and recreational fishing, and recreational navigation for boats.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of ocean currents?
Disadvantages – Sometimes there will not be a lot of waves (which means no energy), It could interfere with ocean ecosystems in the area of the currents, and the temperature is raised wherever ocean currents are happening (which could also ruin an ecosystem).
What are the two main categories of ocean currents?
The two basic types of currents – surface and deep-water currents – help define the character and flow of ocean waters across the planet.
Where is the Coriolis effect the strongest?
poles
11. Earth’s rotational effects on horizontally and freely moving objects are greatest at the poles; therefore, the Coriolis effect is greatest at the poles.
What is the most powerful current in the world?
Saltstraumen
Current. Saltstraumen has one of the strongest tidal currents in the world. Up to 400 million cubic metres (110 billion US gallons) of seawater forces its way through a 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) long and 150-metre (490 ft) wide strait every six hours.
What would happen without the Coriolis effect?
Answer: The lack of rotation would reduce the Coriolis effect to essentially zero. That means that air would move from high pressure to low pressure with almost no deflection at all. This would mean that high pressure centers and low pressure centers would not form locally.
What is the fastest ocean current?
The Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream is the fastest ocean current in the world with peak velocities near 2m/s. Shown to the left are velocity profiles across the Gulf Stream at the Straits of Florida and Cape Hatteras.
What percentage of ocean water is salt?
3.5%
The concentration of salt in seawater (its salinity) is about 35 parts per thousand; in other words, about 3.5% of the weight of seawater comes from the dissolved salts.
What are the major currents?
There are five major ocean-wide gyres—the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, and Indian Ocean gyres. Each is flanked by a strong and narrow “western boundary current,” and a weak and broad “eastern boundary current” (Ross, 1995).
Which ocean has strongest currents?
Antarctic Circumpolar Current
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, or ACC, is the strongest ocean current on our planet. It extends from the sea surface to the bottom of the ocean, and encircles Antarctica.
Why is ocean water salty?
Ocean salt primarily comes from rocks on land. … Rocks on land are the major source of salts dissolved in seawater. Rainwater that falls on land is slightly acidic, so it erodes rocks. This releases ions that are carried away to streams and rivers that eventually feed into the ocean.
What does deep ocean water do as it reaches the equator and warms?
What does deep ocean water do as it reaches the equator and warms? … Surface water turns into groundwater when water seeps into the ground from the surface and ground water turns into surface water when ground water flows into a body of water and goes through the water cycle and falls back onto the surface.
What causes the Coriolis effect?
Because the Earth rotates on its axis, circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection is called the Coriolis effect.
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