Ocean Circulation Flashcards

Flashcards based on ocean circulation lecture notes.

Surface Currents

Ocean currents on the surface, driven by global wind belts, mainly horizontal motion.

Deep Ocean Currents

Ocean currents driven by differences in density from different water masses (temperature and salinity), both horizontal and vertical motions.

Direct Methods

Ways of measuring ocean surface currents by putting floating devices in the water and tracking their movement.

Indirect Methods

Ways of measuring ocean surface currents through meteorology and understanding pressure gradients.

Chemical Tracers

Method of measuring deep ocean currents using substances like tritium or chlorofluorocarbons to track water movement.

Argo Program

Array of floats measuring ocean temperature, salinity, and pH at varying depths to track ocean currents and climate change.

Thermocline

Area of rapidly changing temperature and density.

Gyres

Large circular loops of moving water in the ocean basin, influenced by continents, gravity, friction, and the Coriolis effect.

Subtropical Gyres

Gyres centered at thirty degrees latitude, bounded by equatorial, western boundary, northern/southern boundary, and eastern boundary currents.

Equatorial Currents

Warm currents near the Equator pushed by trade winds, generally moving to the west.

Western Boundary Currents

Warm, fast currents on the eastern side of continents or western side of ocean basins, originating from equatorial regions.

Eastern Boundary Currents

Cold currents originating from high latitudes, flowing southward (Northern Hemisphere) or northward (Southern Hemisphere) along the eastern edge of ocean basins or west side of continents.

Equatorial Countercurrents

Currents flowing eastward due to gravity, counteracting the westward flow of equatorial currents.

Subpolar Gyres

Gyres rotating in the opposite direction, influenced by westerlies and polar easterlies.

Eckmann Spiral

Phenomenon where objects in the Northern Hemisphere move 20-40 degrees to the right of the wind, due to the Coriolis effect on different water layers.

Eckmann Transport

Net transport of water about 90 degrees from the wind direction due to the Eckmann spiral; to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Geostrophic Current

Currents resulting from a balance between the Coriolis effect and gravitational forces on moving surface ocean water.

Western Intensification

Intensification of ocean currents on the western side of ocean basins due to gravity and the Coriolis effect.

Upwelling

Vertical movement of cold, nutrient-rich ocean water from depth towards the surface, supporting high biological productivity.

Downwelling

Vertical movement of surface water downward, leading to nutrient-poor waters and lower biological activity.

West Wind Drift

Unimpeded wind and ocean current that continuously circumnavigates the Earth in the Southern Hemisphere.

Antarctic Convergence

Area where cold, dense Antarctic waters converge with warmer waters from the Westerlies, causing sinking water.

Antarctic Divergence

Divergence caused by East Wind Drift, causing upwelling and high marine life abundance.

Gulf Stream

A warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico, flows up the eastern coastline of the United States, and then moves towards northwest Europe.

Monsoons

Seasonal reversal of prevailing wind direction over the Indian Ocean, affecting ocean circulation and productivity.

El Nino

Periodic disruption of the Walker circulation cell in the Pacific Ocean, causing warmer waters to migrate eastward, disrupting upwelling and fishing.

La Nina

Cool phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation, characterized by increased pressure difference, stronger trade winds, and increased upwelling in the Eastern Pacific.

Thermal Hailing Circulation

Masses of ocean water are moved, driven by differences in temperature and density in ocean water. Occurs below the Picnocline.

Temperature Salinity (TS) Diagram

Identifies ocean water masses based on their differences, Small differences in temperature and salinity, results. I'm sorry temperature and salinity, results in differences in density