Ocean Currents and Tides

These flashcards cover key concepts related to ocean currents, tides, and coastal processes from the lecture notes.

Surface Ocean Currents

Caused by friction between wind and the ocean surface.

Ekman Spiral

Spiral movement of water caused by wind and Coriolis Effect.

Ocean Gyres

Five major gyres include North & South Pacific, North & South Atlantic, Indian Ocean.

Coriolis Effect

Effect that causes ocean currents to deflect.

Gyres

They affect global climate by transferring warm water to poles and cold water to the equator.

Upwelling

The rise of cold, nutrient-rich water due to surface current movement.

Warm Currents

They make coastlines humid.

Cold Currents

They make coastlines dry.

Deep Ocean Circulation

Driven by density differences from temperature and salinity, known as thermohaline circulation.

Deep Ocean Water Origin

Typically originates from cold, salty surface water in high latitudes.

Global Conveyor Belt

A model of thermohaline circulation moving through major oceans.

Wave Energy

Powered by wind energy.

Parts of a Wave

Three key parts include crest, trough, wave base.

Wave Size Factors

Affected by wind speed, wind duration, and fetch.

Waves at Shore

They slow down, grow taller, and break upon reaching the shore.

Wave Abrasion

Grinding action of rock fragments in water.

Wave Refraction

Bending of waves to strike the shoreline head-on.

Erosional Coastal Features

Include sea stacks, sea arches, and cliffs.

Beach Drift

Sediment moves in a zigzag along the shore.

Longshore Drift

Sediment moves parallel to shore due to current in surf zone.

Depositional Coastal Features

Include spits, baymouth bars, and tombolos.

Hard Stabilization Types

Include groins, breakwaters, seawalls, and jetties.

Soft Alternatives to Hard Stabilization

Include beach nourishment and population relocation.

Emergent Coast

Occurs when a coastline rises or sea level falls.

Submergent Coast

Occurs when a coastline sinks or sea level rises.

Tides Causes

Caused by the Moon's gravity, Sun's gravity, and centripetal force.

Spring Tide

Characterized by high tidal range during full or new moon.

Neap Tide

Characterized by low tidal range during 1st or 3rd quarter moons.

Tidal Patterns

Include diurnal, semidiurnal, and mixed.

Flood Current

Tidal water moving inland.

Ebb Current

Tidal water moving seaward.

Tidal Currents Effects

Can create tidal flats and tidal deltas.