What is a current?
> a current is a body of water moving in a specific direction
Gulf Stream?
> a slow moving current
Eddy?
> an eddy is a small current
Surface Circulation?
> circulation driven by wind
Deep Circulation?
> circulation driven by density
Gyre?
> a gyre is a spinning circulation
Gravity Currents?
> a gravity current is when gravity pulls water down
Longshore Currents?
> a longshore current is when water comes in at an angle pushing water toward the shore
Rip Currents?
> a rip current is a strong narrow current flowing outward from the beach through the surf zone and presenting a hazard to swimmers
Upwelling Currents?
>an upwelling is when deep water is pulled up as surface water moves away from land
Global Conveyor Belt?
> the global conveyor belt is when deep current causes the ocean to move around
Thermohaline?
> thermohaline circulation is caused by the formation of deep water masses caused by differences in temperature and salinity of the water
Coriolis Effect?
> where a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion
Summary:
Why are currents important?
>Currents are important because they circulate ocean water from the polar regions.
> a current is a body of water moving in a specific direction
Gulf Stream?
> a slow moving current
Eddy?
> an eddy is a small current
Surface Circulation?
> circulation driven by wind
Deep Circulation?
> circulation driven by density
Gyre?
> a gyre is a spinning circulation
Gravity Currents?
> a gravity current is when gravity pulls water down
Longshore Currents?
> a longshore current is when water comes in at an angle pushing water toward the shore
Rip Currents?
> a rip current is a strong narrow current flowing outward from the beach through the surf zone and presenting a hazard to swimmers
Upwelling Currents?
>an upwelling is when deep water is pulled up as surface water moves away from land
Global Conveyor Belt?
> the global conveyor belt is when deep current causes the ocean to move around
Thermohaline?
> thermohaline circulation is caused by the formation of deep water masses caused by differences in temperature and salinity of the water
Coriolis Effect?
> where a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion
Summary:
Why are currents important?
>Currents are important because they circulate ocean water from the polar regions.