Ocean Circulations Flashcards
What is Walker Circulation
Circulation between East Pacific and Western Pacific caused by low pressure indonesia(warm water) and high pressure east pacific(cold water).
What is el nino southern oscillation
Consists of El-Nino and La nina weather patterns due to changes in walker circulation and trade winds
Connection of Walker Circulation and Trade winds
Walker Circulation and Trade Winds are directly correlated, when one strengthens, the other does too and if one weakens vice versa.
What is El-Nino
El-Nino is when Weak trade winds cause warm water to move eastward, suppressing upwelling off the coast of South America. Pressure drops in the East and gains in the West. Moist warm conditions in South America and cold dry conditions in Asia.
What is La nina
Stronger trade winds push warm water westward, enhancing upwelling in the east Pacific. Basically opposite as El nino. Moist warm conditions in Asia and Cold dry conditions in South America.
What is Ekman Transport
When wind blows over the ocean, it causes water movement, but due to the Coriolis effect, the water does not move exactly in the wind’s direction. Instead, it moves at an angle (about 45° at the surface) and, when summed over depth, moves 90° to the right (Northern Hemisphere) or left (Southern Hemisphere) of the wind direction.
What are Geostrophic currents
When wind-driven currents pile up water in certain areas, gravity pushes the water back down. However, the Coriolis effect deflects the flow, creating large circular currents called gyres
What are Gyres
large, circular ocean currents that are driven by global wind patterns and the Earth’s rotation.
What causes Gyres to form
The trade winds (blowing from east to west near the equator) and the westerlies (blowing from west to east at higher latitudes) drive the surface ocean currents. These winds push water in circular patterns.
