Chapter 8 and 9 study guide
Short Responses for Garrison CH 8 and CH 9, Midterm, and part of AICE CH 7
Explain how wind, temperature, density, the Coriolis effect and the shape of the sea bed produce ocean currents and upwelling.
Ocean currents are the continuous movement of ocean water driven by forces acting on the water, including: wind, waves, the Coriolis effect, temperature, salinity and tides.
The contours of the sea bed influence the strength and direction of the current.
Surface ocean currents are generally driven by the wind and characteristically have a clockwise spiral in the northern hemisphere and a counter-clockwise spiral in the southern hemisphere.
Deep ocean currents are driven by temperature and density gradients.
Upwelling areas are regions where significant vertical movement of water occurs.
A mid-ocean ridge can deflect deep water currents upwards and this is one way in which upwelling is caused.
The Coriolis effect is due to the rotation of the Earth and causes water to move to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. This means that the direction of surface ocean currents is not determined entirely by wind direction, by is deflected by the Coriolis effect.
Current speed = distance moved ÷ time. Direction of the current can be determined using a compass.
Discuss the causes and consequences of El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean.
El Niño (also referred to as ENSO = El Niño Southern Oscillation) is a sequence of events that occurs in the southern Pacific Ocean.
In normal conditions, cold water, rich in nutrients, flows in a northerly direction along the west coast of South America. This is accompanied by an upwelling of nutrients, caused by winds blowing form the south. This results in the water having a high productivity, with very large numbers of anchovies and sardines feeding in the plankton-rich water. This high productivity supports a substantial fisheries industry and many species of sea
Explain how wind, temperature, density, the Coriolis effect and the shape of the sea bed produce ocean currents and upwelling.
Ocean currents are the continuous movement of ocean water driven by forces acting on the water, including: wind, waves, the Coriolis effect, temperature, salinity and tides.
The contours of the sea bed influence the strength and direction of the current.
Surface ocean currents are generally driven by the wind and characteristically have a clockwise spiral in the northern hemisphere and a counter-clockwise spiral in the southern hemisphere.
Deep ocean currents are driven by temperature and density gradients.
Upwelling areas are regions where significant vertical movement of water occurs.
A mid-ocean ridge can deflect deep water currents upwards and this is one way in which upwelling is caused.
The Coriolis effect is due to the rotation of the Earth and causes water to move to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. This means that the direction of surface ocean currents is not determined entirely by wind direction, by is deflected by the Coriolis effect.
Current speed = distance moved ÷ time. Direction of the current can be determined using a compass.
Discuss the causes and consequences of El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean.
El Niño (also referred to as ENSO = El Niño Southern Oscillation) is a sequence of events that occurs in the southern Pacific Ocean.
In normal conditions, cold water, rich in nutrients, flows in a northerly direction along the west coast of South America. This is accompanied by an upwelling of nutrients, caused by winds blowing form the south. This results in the water having a high productivity, with very large numbers of anchovies and sardines feeding in the plankton-rich water. This high productivity supports a substantial fisheries industry and many species of sea