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7 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Coriolis effect |
Result of earth's rotation on weather patterns and ocean currents which makes storms clockwise in the southern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern hemisphere |
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Intertropical convergence zone |
A narrow zone near the equator where the northern and southern air masses converge producing low atmospheric pressure |
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Ekman spiral |
A structure of currents of winds near a horizontal boundary in which the flow direction rotates as one moves from the boundary. |
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How does the Ekman spiral form |
When surface water molecules are dragged by the wind, they drag deeper layers of water molecules below them. Deeper waters are deflected to the right in the Northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere Each successively deeper layer moves more slowly to the left or right Creating a spiral effect. |
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The two types of surface currents |
Converging currents - lower thermocline, nutricline and halocline Diverging currents - firm areas of up welling which disrupt thermocline, nutricline and halocline |
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What drives deep water currents |
Density differentials of various water masses |
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Langmuir circulation |
Surface forms of circulation that involve divergent and convergent zones as a result of wind forcing |