Natural Processes of Variations in Climate

Question 1

What are ocean currents

Answer 1

Ocean currents play a significant role in influencing global climate by redisturbing heat around the earth and regulating regional temperatures. The two main types of ocean currents are surface currants and deep ocean currents.

Question 2

Impact of surface currents

Answer 2

• Surface currants are driven primarily by wind patterns. The major wind belts on Earth, such as the trade winds and the westerlies, push surface waters in specific directions. As the surface currents flow across the oceans, they transport warm or cold water from one region to another, affecting the climate of coastal areas

Question 3

Surface currents example

Answer 3

• For example, the Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic, moderating temperatures in regions like Western Europe.

Question 4

Impact of deep currents

Answer 4

Deep ocean currents are driven by differences in water density, which are influenced by temperature and salinity. These currents are much slower than surface currents but have a profound impact on global climate. The sinking dense, cold water in high latitude regions and upwelling of warmer water in lower latitudes create a global conveyer belt like circulation. This process is crucial for transferring heat from the tropics to the poles

Question 5

Deep currents example

Answer 5

• The North Atlantic Deep Water and Antarctic Bottom Water influences climate patterns as the sinking of water in North Atlantic helps drive Gulf stream.