GLY 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Oceanic Basin, Ocean Current, Pus
8 Apr 2018
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Document Summary
Ocean currents: well defined streams of water moving in the ocean. Two general varieties of currents: surface currents -> driven by wind, deep water flow -> driven by density. Winds blow against the surface water of the ocean and pus it a long. Winds transfers some of its energy into the ocean, making ocean currents. In the northern hemisphere, the coriolis effect bends motion to the right. Surface ocean currents point slightly to the right of the winds in the northern hemisphere. Ocean gyres: multiple currents that together flow around an ocean basin. Gyres flow clockwise in the northern hemisphere. Gyres flow counter clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Warm water on the west side of the ocean because it came from the tropics. Cold water on the east side of the ocean because it came from the poles. Western current of each gyre is the strongest.
