GEOL 1120 Lecture 13: Lecture 13 Notes

• School: University of Georgia
• Department: Geology
• Course: GEOL 1120
• Professor: Roden

Document Summary

Idealized ocean circulation patterns are dominated by gyres. Because of the coriolis effect, ocean currents are deflected ~20 from the wind direction. Continental boundaries deflect the waters towards the poles or equator. The actual surface circulation is more complicated because of frictional and rotational effects. The gulf stream is an intense western current. Warm waters along the east coast of north america. Upwellings are found in two places: on the eastern boundaries of gyres, along coasts where surface winds push waters away from the shore this is called coastal upwelling, photosynthesis and biological productivity are closely tied to upwelling. Thermohaline circulation is driven by sinking of cold, saline water. Gulf stream waters grow colder and saltier as they flow north until they"re so dense that they sink. The sinking of water near greenland produces the north atlantic deep water, which drives. Water density controlled by temperature and salinity.