Lecture 11 Flashcards
1
Q
atmosphere and oceans move due to unequal heating
A
3-cell model
2
Q
oceans constantly in motion
A
- transfer heat from warmer to colder areas
- influences abundance of life in surface waters by affecting nutrients
3
Q
2 types of ocean circulation
A
surface circulation (above 400m) deep ocean circulation (below 400m)
4
Q
surface circulation
A
driven by winds
5
Q
deep circulation
A
driven by density
6
Q
direct methods of measuring ocean circulation
A
floating devices released and tracked through time
fixed propeller flow meter
7
Q
indirect methods
A
satellite measurement
doppler flow meters
tracking t, s or other chemical tracers
8
Q
what causes gyres to form
A
continent positions and wind patterns
southern gyres- flow counter clockwise
9
Q
ekman spiral
A
looking vertically down at the currents, they spiral
10
Q
ekman transport
A
avg flow of water throughout the serial is 90 degrees to the right/left
