Coasts - Theme 2 - CURRENTS Flashcards
1
Q
What are the two currents in the ocean
A
-Surface and deep
2
Q
What are currents driven by
A
-Wind
3
Q
What are the movements of currents
A
-horizontal or vertical
4
Q
What are horizontal currents
A
-Short term currents - rip currents and longshore currents
5
Q
What are vertical currents
A
- known as UPWELLING CURRENTS
- cold water is more dense moves upwards
- warm water is less dense moves downwards
6
Q
What is the global converyer belt
A
- warm surface currents taking warm water from equator to poles
- cool surface currents taking cool water from poles to equator
- REGULATES WEATHER, CLIMATE, CYCLING NUTRIENTS AND GASES
7
Q
What is a gyre
A
-Circular movement of water
8
Q
What is a longshore current
A
- waves dont hit coastline head on but on an angle
- current parrel to the shore
- moves accross the surf zone with the sediment
9
Q
What is a rip current
A
- strong current moving away from the shore
- seawater piles on the coast - the breaking waves pushes the built up water underneath creating a strong current
10
Q
What is upwelling
A
- Vertical movement of water
- cold water is more dense so moves up
- warm water is less dense so moves down
- important in global conveyor
