Ocean circulation

Gyre

Large, circular ocean current systems that often encompass an entire ocean basin.

El Niño - Southern Oscillation (figure 4.18 pg 75)

a periodic, large scale warming of surface waters of surface waters of the tropical eastern pacific ocean that affects both ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns

Draw global surface-ocean currents

alright

Draw the Ocean Conveyor Belt

alright

Has the ocean conveyor belt ever changed or had a different path in the Earth's history?

Yes during the ice age where the heat transferring stop because it's all ice.

Ocean Conveyor Belt

an ocean stream that go around the world ocean with warm water moved by trade wind which force the cold deep water to move as well

How does the ocean conveyor belt affect regional climate?

as the gulf stream and north atlantic brought immense amount of heat from the tropics to europe. it's responsible for the relatively warm climate in europe.

How does ocean water mix vertically?

cold water sink down, and hot water goes up

How does El Niño affect coastal communities?

during the EnSO even the colder nutrient rich deep water and the warmer surface temperatures and weak trade winds prevent upwelling therfore. so there's there's the lack of nutrients in the water which results in a severe decrease in the populations of an chovies and many other marine fishes. --> affect the fisherman

Density

mass per unit volume

what are some of the global effects of El Niño?

property damages --> heavy snow in W US --> ice strom in eastern canada -->rain and flood in peru and california ecuqdor and etc.--> drought --> fires

How does El Niño start and stop?

start from strong trade winds--> warm water mpves away from coast --> cool nutrient-rich water upwells to surface

How does the Coriolis effect influence surface currents?

the coriolis effect influences the paths of surface-ocean currents by the rotation of the earth from west to east cases surface ocean currents to swerve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, helping establish the circular, clockwise pattern of water current. In southern Hemisphere it swerve to the left, thereby moving in a circular counterclockwise pattern (look from the top or the bottom and will get it)

Discuss the roles of solar energy and the Coriolis effect in producing global water flow patterns, including gyres.

the solar energy warms up the surface water, and the trade wind pushes the surface water which happen to be the Coriolis effect by moving away

How are the sun's energy, prevailing winds, and surface-ocean currents related?

the sunlight warms up the surface water, and the trade wind blows the surface water which allow the under water move by surface water.

how do surface currents form?

trade wind blow

Upwells

water hit the surface and come to the surface