Ocean Circulation Flashcards
Ocean Circulation
Land dominates the Northern Hemisphere and oceans the Southern.
Summer and winter air temperature
Summer and winter air temperature differences are greater in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ocean Circulation air and oceanic current
Air and oceanic currents carry heat from the equator to the poles.
Convection
The circular motion that occurs when warmer air or liquid rises, while the cooler air or liquid sinks.
Ocean Circulation
wind patterns
Wind patterns caused by tropical air flowing to the polar regions drive surface ocean currents.
Ocean Circulation
temperature and density
Temperature and density control deep-water, density-driven currents.
Ocean Circulation Ocean water
Deeper ocean waters are colder and denser than near-surface waters.
Ocean circulations in the northern hemisphere
In the Northern Hemisphere, north-flowing ocean currents from the equator are warmer than south-flowing ones.
Thermohaline currents
Thermohaline currents drive a conveyor belt of ocean water that moves constantly, unlike most surface currents, which are driven by winds.
Ocean circulation water
Cold, salty water sinks, while warmer water rises.
the Gus stream Northern latitude
The Gulf Stream heats northern latitudes by entering the Norwegian Sea.
Ocean Circulation sinks
This water sinks because it loses heat and becomes cooler and denser.
Ocean Circulation bottom water flows
Cold bottom water flows south to Antarctica and warms and rises to the surface in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
