What describes a surface current?

What describes a surface current?

Surface currents are currents that are located in the upper 1,300 feet of the ocean, as opposed to deep in the ocean. Currents are simply how water moves from one place to another, but they can be very strong and forceful. Surface currents are affects by gravity, wind, the Coriolis Effect, and continental deflection.

What does a surface current do?

Ocean water moves in predictable ways along the ocean surface. Surface currents can flow for thousands of kilometers and can reach depths of hundreds of meters. Surface currents are extremely important because they distribute heat around the planet and are a major factor influencing climate around the globe.

What is a surface current for kids?

Surface currents are currents that are found on the surface of the ocean water, usually found in the upper 1,300 ft. of water. The waves that you see crash into the shore at the beach are surface currents. They make up a small amount of the currents in the ocean.

What’s an example of a surface current?

Two examples are the California Current (Cal) in the Pacific ocean basin and the Canary Current (Can) in the Atlantic ocean basin. The North Equatorial Current (NE) and the South Equatorial Current (SE) flow in the same direction.

What are the two types of surface currents?

Two major kinds of currents define the planet’s oceans: surface currents driven by wind and deep-water currents driven by variations in seawater density.

What is the difference between a current and a surface current?

A current is a stream of moving water that flows through the ocean. Surface currents are caused mainly by winds but not daily winds. Surface currents are caused by the major wind belts. These winds blow in the same direction all the time.

What is a major surface current?

Major surface ocean currents are the result of global wind patterns, Earth’s rotation, and the shape of the ocean basins. Major surface currents circle the oceans in five gyres. Local surface currents, like longshore and rip currents, move near shorelines.

What is the current in the ocean called?

Tides create a current in the oceans, which are strongest near the shore, and in bays and estuaries along the coast. These are called “tidal currents.” Tidal currents change in a very regular pattern and can be predicted for future dates.

What happens when two ocean currents meet?

Many boat/ship wrecks happen where the two currents meet. This is one reason that area is known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”. The two currents can play a role in the weather patterns such as thick fog and large temperature differences which can enhance weather systems right off shore!

What is the difference between a coastal current and a surface current?

While coastal currents are caused by local winds, surface currents in the open ocean originate from global wind patterns.

What are the major surface currents?

There are five major ocean-wide gyres—the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, and Indian Ocean gyres. Each is flanked by a strong and narrow “western boundary current,” and a weak and broad “eastern boundary current” (Ross, 1995).

What are two examples of surface currents are?

Two examples of surface currents are the Gulf Stream and the Brazil Current Surface currents are caused by the wind Ocean currents flow from east to west near the equator Ocean currents in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres turn in opposite directions

What causes most surface currents?

A: Surface ocean currents are caused by winds. Wind currents run in certain directions because the earth rotates. Winds go to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.

What do surface currents affect?

Surface currents are wind-driven ocean currents that occur in the upper parts of the ocean. Surface currents affect the circulation of heat and fresh water. While wind moves surface currents, the Coriolis force affects the direction in which they travel.

What are surface currents driven by?

Surface currents are found on the surface of an ocean, and are driven by large scale wind currents. They are directly affected by the wind—the Coriolis effect plays a role in their behaviours.