In contrast to wind-driven surface currents, deep-ocean currents are caused by
differences in water density
. The process that creates deep currents is called thermohaline circulation—“thermo” referring to temperature and “haline” to saltiness. … This water also cools and sinks, keeping a deep current in motion.
What causes deep ocean currents quizlet?
What causes deep water currents to move? It is caused by
temperature and salinity of the water
. It is from the surface to 200m deep. It is caused by wind action, Earth's spin, and the shape of the continents.
What causes deep water currents to form?
Ocean currents can be caused by
wind
, density differences in water masses caused by temperature and salinity variations, gravity, and events such as earthquakes or storms. … These currents move water masses through the deep ocean—taking nutrients, oxygen, and heat with them.
What causes the currents to form?
Ocean currents are
driven by wind, water density differences, and tides
. Oceanic currents describe the movement of water from one location to another. Currents are generally measured in meters per second or in knots (1 knot = 1.85 kilometers per hour or 1.15 miles per hour).
Where do deep water currents usually form?
Thus, deep currents generally occur in the
higher latitude regions of the Earth
, such as North Atlantic Deep Water and Antarctic Bottom Water, and from these frigid poleward regions the deep currents flow at a relatively slow pace towards the equator.
What are some examples of deep circulation currents?
There are five major gyres:
the North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, the North Pacific, the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean Gyre
, see figure 1. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is situated in the Southern Ocean and constantly circles around Antarctica because there are no land masses to interrupt the currents.
What are three factors that control deep currents?
What are three factors that control deep currents?
Density, salinity, and temperature
; accept also the Coriolis effect.
What are deep ocean currents a result of?
In contrast to wind-driven surface currents, deep-ocean currents are caused by
differences in water density
. The process that creates deep currents is called thermohaline circulation—“thermo” referring to temperature and “haline” to saltiness.
Which best describes one way that convection influences the circulation of ocean water?
Convection refers to the movement of heat through a fluid, such as water. Which best describes one way that convection influences the circulation of ocean water? … –
Warm water at the surface flows toward the poles and sinks as it cools.
– Deep, cold water flows toward the equator and rises as it cools.
What are the 3 major ocean currents?
The produce large circular currents in all the ocean basins. Currents,
The North Equatorial Current, the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, and the Canary Current
.
What factors affects the strength of water current?
Waters density is affected by
its temperature and salinity, or saltiness
. The colder and saltier the water is, the denser and heavier it is. Cold, dense water tends to sink and flow under warmer, lighter water, creating a current.
What's a deep current?
Deep currents, also known as thermohaline circulation,
result from differences in water density
. These currents occur when cold, dense water at the poles sinks. Surface water flows to replace sinking water, causing a conveyor belt-like effect of water circulating around the globe on a 1000-year journey.
What are the 5 major ocean currents?
Ocean gyres are large system of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and forces created by Earth's rotation. The five major circulation patterns formed by the currents on this map are the world's five major ocean gyres:
North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, North Pacific, and South Pacific
.
What is thermohaline circulation mainly due to?
As opposed to wind-driven currents and tides (which are due to the gravity of moon and sun), the thermohaline circulation (Fig. 1) is that part of the ocean circulation which is driven by
density differences
. Sea water density depends on temperature and salinity, hence the name thermo-haline.
What drives the thermohaline circulation?
Thermohaline circulation begins in the Earth's polar regions. When ocean water in these areas gets very cold, sea ice forms. … These deep-ocean currents are driven by
differences in the water's density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline)
. This process is known as thermohaline circulation.
What 3 things affect surface currents?
Surface currents are controlled by three factors:
global winds, the Coriolis effect, and continental deflections
. surface create surface currents in the ocean. Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions. objects from a straight path due to the Earth's rotation.
