CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation Fig CO 7 Ocean

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CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation Fig. CO 7

CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation Fig. CO 7

Ocean currents n n n n Chapter 9 Pages 9 -3 & 9 -4

Ocean currents n n n n Chapter 9 Pages 9 -3 & 9 -4 Surface Currents n 9 -2 Understanding what causes currents and where they flow is fundamental to all marine sciences. Currents transports 1 2 3 4 Causes of Currents Three major factors drive ocean currents. n 1. Wind. n 2. Changes in sea level. = n 3. Variations in water density.

Ocean gyres There are five major gyres – one in each major ocean basin:

Ocean gyres There are five major gyres – one in each major ocean basin: 1. North Atlantic Gyre 2. South Atlantic Gyre 3. North Pacific Gyre 4. South Pacific Gyre 5. Indian Ocean Gyre Fig. 7. 4

8 -5

8 -5

Other surface currents n n Equatorial countercurrents Subpolar gyres Fig. 7. 5

Other surface currents n n Equatorial countercurrents Subpolar gyres Fig. 7. 5

Western and Eastern Boundary Currents n n n Western Boundary 1 W_______ water from

Western and Eastern Boundary Currents n n n Western Boundary 1 W_______ water from the equator the poles 2. Currents are n____ 3. Current water is d_____ 4. Currents are f_____ 5. Eddies are common Chapter 9 Pages 9 -10 to 9 -16 Surface Currents n The currents on either side of an Ocean is different 9 -7 n Eastern Boundary 1. C_______water from 2. 3. 4. 5. Currents are w____ Current water is shallow Currents are s_______ Eddies are rare Total water volume balances out. Western boundary currents handle the same volume, but through smaller areas, so water must move more rapidly.

Western and Eastern Boundary Currents are not fixed steady streams of water They s______

Western and Eastern Boundary Currents are not fixed steady streams of water They s______ up and s______ down 2. They w_____ and c______ 3. They curl and change directions 4. They form eddies, two types 2 A. cold water = 1. A. 9 -9 Warm water=

Gulf Stream Fig. 7. 17 b

Gulf Stream Fig. 7. 17 b

Climate effects of North Atlantic currents n n Gulf Stream warms East coast of

Climate effects of North Atlantic currents n n Gulf Stream warms East coast of U. S. and Northern Europe North Atlantic and Norwegian Currents warm northwestern Europe Labrador Current cools eastern Canada Canary Current cools North Africa coast

Ekman spiral n n n Surface currents move at angle to wind Ekman spiral

Ekman spiral n n n Surface currents move at angle to wind Ekman spiral describes speed and direction of seawater flow at different depths Each successive layer moves increasingly to right (N hemisphere) Fig. 7. 6

Ekman transport n n n Average movement of seawater under influence of wind 90

Ekman transport n n n Average movement of seawater under influence of wind 90 o to right of wind in Northern hemisphere 90 o to left of wind in Southern hemisphere Fig. 7. 7

Countercurrents n n n Chapter 9 Pages 9 -16 & 9 -17 Surface Currents

Countercurrents n n n Chapter 9 Pages 9 -16 & 9 -17 Surface Currents n n Countercurrents and undercurrents are water flows that differ from the major ocean currents. Countercurrents are associated with equatorial currents – it runs opposite of its adjacent current They are weak and found in the ITCZ. Longshore currents –run opposite of dominant current offshore Undercurrents flow beneath the adjacent current and are found beneath most major currents. Example Mediterranean sea 9 - 14

Upwelling and Downwelling n Chapter 9 Pages 9 -17 to 9 -20 Surface Currents

Upwelling and Downwelling n Chapter 9 Pages 9 -17 to 9 -20 Surface Currents n Upwelling is an upward vertical current that brings deep water to the surface. Downwelling is a downward vertical current that pushes surface water to the bottom. Coastal upwellings occur when the wind blows offshore or parallel to shore. These currents have strong biological effects: n Upwelling= n Upwellings also influence weather patterns. n Cold water next to shore = n Warm water next to shore = n Downwellings = 9 - 15

Fig. 7. 12 b

Fig. 7. 12 b

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) n El Niño tremendously affects worldweather patterns. n Normal

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) n El Niño tremendously affects worldweather patterns. n Normal = Winds blow east to west along the equator n Chapter 9 Pages 9 -20 to 9 -22 Surface Currents n 9 - 17 This brings low pressure and high rainfall in the Western Pacific. Eastern Pacific = High Pressure= Dry weather

Normal conditions Fig. 7. 20 a

Normal conditions Fig. 7. 20 a

El Niño n n (continued) every 3 to 8 years a rearrangement of the

El Niño n n (continued) every 3 to 8 years a rearrangement of the high- and low-pressure systems occur. Warm water of the west pacific migrate east to the coast of South America. It causes the collapse of local fisheries and marine ecosystems in South America. Flooding, tornados, drought and other weather events lead to loss of life and property damage. El Nino changes the weather Worldwide Wet places= Dry places= United States Peru= 9 - 19

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO): Warm phase (El Niño) Fig. 7. 20 b

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO): Warm phase (El Niño) Fig. 7. 20 b

Figure 7. 21

Figure 7. 21

Figure 7. 24

Figure 7. 24

n n n n El Nino (Spanish name for the male child) initially referred

n n n n El Nino (Spanish name for the male child) initially referred to a weak, warm current appearing annually around Christmas time along the coast of Ecuador and Peru (not good for their fishing industry and quano birds!) can produce significant economic and atmospheric consequences worldwide occur every 3 -7 years, lasting about one year Recent major events: 1982 -1983 and 1997 -1998 The 97 -98 event was the strongest ever recorded!! Previous El Niño Years 1902 -1903 1905 -1906 1911 -1912 1914 -1915 1918 -1919 1923 -1924 1925 -1926 19301931 1932 -1933 1939 -1940 1941 -1942 1951 -1952 1953 -1954 1957 -1958 1965 -1966 1969 -1970 1972 -1973 1976 -1977 1982 -1983 1986 -1987 1991 -1992 1994 -1995 1997 -1998 2002 -2003 2006 -7 n

Thermohaline Circulation and Water Masses n Thermohaline circulation= n In the deep-ocean layers, water

Thermohaline Circulation and Water Masses n Thermohaline circulation= n In the deep-ocean layers, water density variation, not wind, is the primary cause of current. n Thermohaline circulation works because water density increases due to cooling, increased salinity or both. 1. Warm Water= n 2. Cold Water= n Five distinct water masses result from density stratification. 9 - 24

Thermohaline circulation n Selected deep-water masses n Antarctic Bottom Water n North Atlantic Deep

Thermohaline circulation n Selected deep-water masses n Antarctic Bottom Water n North Atlantic Deep Water n Mediterrian Deep Waters

How Deep Water Forms Chapter 9 Pages 9 -28 to 9 -30 Deep Currents

How Deep Water Forms Chapter 9 Pages 9 -28 to 9 -30 Deep Currents n The intermediate, deep, and bottom water masses form primarily, but not entirely, at high latitudes (around 70° North and South). n Antarctic Bottom Waters form in the Antarctic in winter, sink to the bottom and spread along the ocean floor to about 40° north latitude. n North Atlantic Deep Waters form in the artic, n but often get trapped there by the topography of the ocean basin. n layers. n Mediterranean Deep Waters form due to evaporation rather than cooling, with a salinity of 38‰. Flowing out of the Mediterranean they form the intermediate water layer resting above the bottom layer and deep layer. 9 - 26

Conveyor-belt circulation n Combination deep ocean currents and surface currents Fig. 7. 27

Conveyor-belt circulation n Combination deep ocean currents and surface currents Fig. 7. 27

End of CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation

End of CHAPTER 7 Ocean Circulation