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The Coriolis effect results in a deflection of fluid flows (to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere). Because the distance around the Earth decreases as one moves away from the equator, and because the Earth rotates in a counter clockwise direction as seen from the north pole, air and water masses are deflected to the east as they move from the equator to the poles, and to the west as they move from the poles to the equator. This has profound effects on the flow of the oceans. In particular it means the flow goes around high and low pressure systems, permitting them to persist for long periods of time. As a result, tiny variations in pressure can produce measurable currents. A slope of one part in one million in sea surface height, for example, will result in a current of 1 cm/s at mid-latitudes. The fact that the Coriolis effect is largest at the poles and weak at the equator results in sharp, relatively steady western boundary currents which are absent on eastern boundaries

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How does the coriolis effect make oceans currents appear to move?

The coriolis effect makes ocean currents move in a curved path.


How do Coriolis effect relate to deep currents?

The Coriolis effect influences deep ocean currents by causing them to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection helps to create large-scale circulation patterns known as gyres, which affect the flow of deep currents. Additionally, the Coriolis effect interacts with temperature and salinity differences in ocean water, contributing to the formation and movement of thermohaline circulation, a key driver of deep ocean currents. Overall, the Coriolis effect plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of ocean currents and global climate systems.


What is the main cause of surface currents in earth's ocean?

Surface currents in the Earth's oceans are mainly caused by the combination of the wind and the rotation of the Earth (Coriolis effect). The wind pushes the surface water, creating movement, and the Coriolis effect deflects this movement to create currents.


Wind and ocean currents do not move in straight lines This is called?

This is called meandering, which refers to the winding or curving path taken by wind or ocean currents as they flow. This meandering is influenced by various factors such as the Coriolis effect, friction with the Earth's surface, and changing temperatures.


How does the coriolis effect do to the currents to form gyres?

The Coriolis effect causes moving fluids, like ocean currents, to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere due to Earth's rotation. This deflection influences the direction of surface currents, leading to the formation of large circular patterns known as gyres. In each ocean basin, the interplay of wind patterns, the Coriolis effect, and continental boundaries results in these gyres, which play a crucial role in global climate and ocean circulation.

Related Questions

How does the coriolis effect make oceans currents appear to move?

The coriolis effect makes ocean currents move in a curved path.


What is the relationship between convection currents in the ocean and convection currents in the atmosphere?

Which best explains the relationship between ocean currents and convection currents?(1 point) Responses Convection currents join with the Coriolis effect to create the winds that drive ocean currents. Convection currents join with the Coriolis effect to create the winds that drive ocean currents. Ocean currents rely on warm convection currents to strength the Coriolis effect. Ocean currents rely on warm convection currents to strength the Coriolis effect. Ocean currents create a Coriolis effect that increases convection currents. Ocean currents create a Coriolis effect that increases convection currents. Convection currents use the Coriolis effect to generate ocean currents.


HOW does the Coriolis effect impact ocean currents in the southern and northern hemisphere?

In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes ocean currents to be deflected to the right. In the southern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes ocean currents to be deflected to the left. This deflection leads to the clockwise rotation of ocean currents in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise rotation in the southern hemisphere.


A sentence with coriolis effect?

The Coriolis effect causes moving objects on Earth, such as air currents and ocean currents, to appear to curve due to the rotation of the Earth.


What direction does the Coriolis effect cause currents in the northern hemisphere to turn?

In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes currents to turn to the right. This means that ocean currents tend to flow clockwise in the northern hemisphere as a result of the Coriolis effect.


How does currents affect the coriolis effect?

The coriolis effect makes ocean currents move in a curved path.


What effect causes ocean currents to curve to the right or the left?

the answer is Coriolis


What curving of the path of the winds and ocean currents is called the?

the coriolis effect


What are three factors that affect the surface ocean currents?

Continental deflections,the Coriolis effect and global winds all effect surface ocean currents.


How do Coriolis effect relate to deep currents?

The Coriolis effect influences deep ocean currents by causing them to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection helps to create large-scale circulation patterns known as gyres, which affect the flow of deep currents. Additionally, the Coriolis effect interacts with temperature and salinity differences in ocean water, contributing to the formation and movement of thermohaline circulation, a key driver of deep ocean currents. Overall, the Coriolis effect plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of ocean currents and global climate systems.


What are the three factors that affect the ocean?

Continental deflections,the Coriolis effect and global winds all effect surface ocean currents.


What is responsible for circulating air and ocean currents to the right in the northern hemisphere?

The Coriolis effect