How does ocean circulation affect climate?from mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov
Ocean circulation plays a key role in distributing solar energy and maintaining climate by moving heat from Earth’s equator to the poles. How they move influences climate and living conditions for plants and animals, even on land.
Why is ocean circulation important?from mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov
However, it is an important job considering that these waters affect Earth’s climate, as well as habitats for plants and animals, even on land.
Why do ocean waters move?from mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov
Density differences are the key to why ocean waters move. The oceans are mostly composed of less dense water near the surface over more dense water in the ocean depths. These two regions don't mix except in certain special areas.
Where does ocean water go?from mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov
All this heating and cooling and melting and thawing creates a layered ocean: warmer fresher water on top, cold salty water at the bottom. Organisms move from one layer to another, and plant and animal remains containing nutrients "rain" down, but the layers stay fairly separate in all but a few places.
How does water expand?from mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov
Like the heated air in a hot-air balloon, heated water expands. Heat makes water lighter, so it rises. Solar heat absorbed at the equator causes water to expand. In this way, heated water raises the normal level of the sea surface. The heat in the water is carried to higher latitudes by ocean currents where it is released into the atmosphere. Water chilled by colder temperatures at high latitudes contracts (thus gets denser), sinks, and moves back toward the equator.
What is the effect of thermohaline ocean currents on the Earth's climate?from mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov
The thermohaline ocean currents have a strong effect on the Earth System. This “conveyer belt” type circulation moves heat around the Earth through all of the ocean basis; the interconnected process of “overturning circulation” helps to regulate Earth’s climate.
What would happen if the thermohaline flow stopped?from mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov
Scientists think that if the conveyor slows or stops, the warmer surface water would not be propelled back toward the north Atlantic through the Gulf Stream. This could cause Europe to have a colder climate.
What causes ocean surface circulation?
Coriolis forces is another cause of ocean surface circulation currents. These forces can cause the ocean currents to move in a certain way. Every layer in the water would move at different rate of velocity to the right direction. Thus the ocean currents would form a circular or spiral currents.
What is the largest circulation in the ocean?
Thermohaline circulation is one of the largest circulation in the ocean. It keeps the deepst parts of the ocean with fresh water from the surface. It helps the movement in the water surface circulation in the ocean.
How does landform affect currents?
Landform position can also affect the currents. The position of a landform can create a blockage to the flow of the ocean water. So, as a result gyres are formed. There are five major types of gyres which include the South Pacific Gyre, South Atlantic Gyre and Indian Ocean Gyre.
How does circulation affect rainfall?
Rainfall: The circulation current can affect the amount of a rainfall within a certain region. During a specific period, there could be a lack of rainfall. But in other times there could be a downpour. Storm: Another effect from the current is creating powerful ocean storms.
How does topography affect ocean currents?
The topography of an ocean actually has a large impact on the currents in the ocean. When the topography is deep, the the water will move downward. On the other hand, if the bottom rises then the water will mostly move upward. The surface water will continue to circulate as the bottom water rises.
How does salinity affect the surface of the ocean?
So salinity also affects the switching movement between warm water going down while cool water going up. This switching movement is what creates ocean surface circulation too. 8.
What is ocean current?
Ocean current is a continuous movement of ocean water. It helps to carry water from one ocean to another across the Earth. The water can move for many kilometers in the oceans. There is surface water and deep water in the ocean. The surface water can have its own circulation which contributes to the overall circulation across the globe. This article will tell you the 13 Causes of Ocean Surface Circulation Currents. By knowing the factors that affect the circulation, you will understand the working of the ocean better. Furthermore, you will realize the many impact this surface circulation has for the world.
What is the ocean circulation?
Ocean circulation. The ocean covers 71% of Earth’s surface and is constantly in motion. Large masses of water that move together, called ocean currents, transport heat, marine organisms, nutrients, dissolved gasses such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, and pollutants all over the world. Climate and ecosystems everywhere on Earth, ...
Why is ocean circulation important?
Ocean circulation is such an important process in the Earth system because currents transport heat, oxygen, nutrients, and living organisms. Most of the sunlight absorbed by water on Earth’s surface gets stored in our oceans as heat, and heat from the atmosphere is also absorbed by the ocean, which increases the ocean’s temperature.
How does the world change as it warms?
As the world warms due to increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from human activities, changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns will alter regional climate and ecosystems around the globe.
What is the movement of large masses of water at and below the surface?
Ocean circulation patterns, the movement of large masses of water both at and below the surface, are determined by atmospheric circulation patterns, variation in the amount of sunlight absorbed with latitude, and the water cycle. Surface currents, also called horizontal currents, are primarily the result of wind pushing on the surface of the water, ...
How does the Gulf Stream affect climate?
For example, the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean brings heat from near the equator to Europe, making it much warmer than other areas at similar latitudes .
Why do currents not move in straight lines?
Currents, like winds in the atmosphere, do not move in straight lines because of the spin of the Earth, which causes the Coriolis effect. Currents that move up and down in the water column, also called vertical currents, are created by differences in the density of water masses, where heavier waters sink and lighter waters rise. ...
What is surface current?
Surface currents, also called horizontal currents, are primarily the result of wind pushing on the surface of the water, and the direction and extent of their movement is determined by the distribution of continents. Currents, like winds in the atmosphere, do not move in straight lines because of the spin of the Earth, ...
What causes deepwater currents?
Currents may also be caused by density differences in water masses due to temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline) variations via a process known as thermohaline circulation. These currents move water masses through ...
How are ocean currents driven?
Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earth’s rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents. Surface wind-driven currents generate upwelling currents in conjunction with landforms, creating deepwater currents.
What causes turbidity in the ocean?
Earthquakes may also trigger rapid downslope movement of water-saturated sediments, creating strong turbidity currents.
What are the two main types of currents in the ocean?
There are two distinct current systems in the ocean—surface circulation, which stirs a relatively thin upper layer of the sea, and deep circulation , which sweeps along the deep-sea floor. Download image (jpg, 38.6 KB).
Global Circulation
The world's system of ocean currents is known as the Ocean Conveyor. It distributes vast quantities of heat around the world oceans. Red arrows indicate warm surface currents driven by the wind. Blue arrows indicate the deep ocean circulation affected by differences in temperature, salinity, and density.
North Atlantic Circulation
The equatorial sun warms the ocean surface and causes water to evaporate. The Gulf Stream carries the hot, salty water north (red lines) up the east coast of the United States and then across to Europe. Once the water reaches the colder latitudes, it cools and becomes denser. It therefore sinks to deeper depths and flows back south (blue lines).
