Air currents, earth's rotation and the location of the continents. <<< textbook source!
Surface currents are driven by a combination of factors, including wind patterns created by the movement of the atmosphere. Wind blowing over the surface of the ocean generates friction, causing water to move in the direction of the wind. This creates surface currents that can influence weather patterns and ocean circulation.
The three factors that control the path of a surface current are wind direction, the Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), and the shape of the coastline or the presence of land masses. These factors influence the direction and strength of surface currents in the ocean.
Surface Currents.
The movement of water on the surface of seas and oceans is called surface currents. These currents are caused by a combination of factors, such as wind, the Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), temperature, and salinity gradients. Surface currents play a crucial role in redistributing heat around the globe and influencing weather patterns.
Surface currents in the ocean are primarily driven by wind patterns, which transfer energy to the water's surface. Additionally, the Earth's rotation influences these currents through the Coriolis effect, causing them to curve rather than flow in a straight line. Other factors, such as differences in temperature and salinity, as well as the shape of coastlines and ocean basins, also contribute to the movement of surface currents.
Surface currents are primarily caused by the wind blowing across the ocean's surface, transferring energy to the water. The Coriolis effect, resulting from the Earth's rotation, influences the direction of these currents, causing them to flow in circular patterns. Additionally, differences in water temperature and salinity can create density gradients, further affecting current movement. These factors together drive the complex system of surface currents in the world's oceans.
The energy that drives the movement of the water
Factors that set surface ocean currents into motions are the global circulation cells (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar), the Coriolis effect, and the continental deflection.
The three factors which control surface currents are the following:Global windsContinental deflection and temperatureThe Coriolis effect
Continental deflections,the Coriolis effect and global winds all effect surface ocean currents.
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