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The coriolis effect. The spinning of the Earth on it's axis necessarily produces a rotation in wind and water currents on the Earth's surface due to the fact that the equator moves at a faster rate of speed than any points approaching the poles. This creates a counterclockwise rotation of currents in the northern hemisphere and clockwise rotation south of the equator. It also creates a deflection of currents to the right north of the equator and a deflection to the left south of the equator, essentially causing the currents to deflect in a clockwise direction north of the equator and counterclockwise south of the equator (opposite their localized spin).
Thus the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic currents around the Atlantic Ocean move clockwise around the ocean, yet hurricanes in the North Atlantic spin counterclockwise locally.
Other factors such as change in surface heat (sea/land breezes) and gravity (sun and moon creating tidal currents) also exist.
Nick Parker
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe coriolis effect. The spinning of the Earth on it's axis necessarily produces a rotation in wind and water currents on the Earth's surface due to the fact that the equator moves at a faster rate of speed than any points approaching the poles. This creates a counterclockwise rotation of currents in the northern hemisphere and clockwise rotation south of the equator. It also creates a deflection of currents to the right north of the equator and a deflection to the left south of the equator, essentially causing the currents to deflect in a clockwise direction north of the equator and counterclockwise south of the equator (opposite their localized spin).
Thus the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic currents around the Atlantic Ocean move clockwise around the ocean, yet hurricanes in the North Atlantic spin counterclockwise locally.
Other factors such as change in surface heat (sea/land breezes) and gravity (sun and moon creating tidal currents) also exist.
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What type of current is caused by wind on the oceans surface?
Surface ocean currents are caused by winds. As wind blows across the surface, the wind pulls the water and causes waves.
What causes ocean surface currents?
A surface current is a current caused by wind direction
An increase in wind causes this current to increase What type of current is it?
Convection is the process that causes warm air to rise and cold air to sink. As such, the winds caused by this process are called convection currents.
What force between the ocean and wind causes surface currents?
;
The wind stirs up currents?
Surface
What is the primary source of energy for ocean currents and waves?
Ocean currents at the SURFACE -- their primary cause is SOLAR ENERGY. Due to solar energy, much of the wind pattern originates and this wind pattern in turn causes ocean currents on the surface.
A force between the ocean and the wind causes what type surface currents?
friction
What primarily drives the surface ocean currents?
The driving force behind surface currents is the wind. The wind happens naturally due to the constant rotating of the Earth.
Are wind and ocean currents formed by convection?
Yes, insolation, which is the amount of energy a surface receives from the sun in kilowatts, at is less at the poles than the equator. This causes convection and in turn causes wind and ocean currents, but other influences, such as Earth's rotation and topography are also responsible.
What factor causes surface currents north and south of the equator to move in different locations?
Surface currents are created by air currents, earth's rotation, and positions of the continents.
What are Currents powered by wind called?
Surface Currents
What force between the ocean the wind causes surface currents?
Ocean currents are dure to a cobination of wind, the Corilis effect, and temperature differences.
