How do global winds create surface currents?

Asked by: Wendy Dunn

In the Northern Hemisphere, for example, predictable winds called trade winds blow from east to west just above the equator. The winds pull surface water with them, creating currents. As these currents flow westward, the Coriolis effect—a force that results from the rotation of the Earth—deflects them.

Do global winds affect surface currents?

Large global wind systems are created by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface. These global wind systems, in turn, drive the oceans’ surface currents.

How do surface currents develop?

Surface currents are created by three things: global wind patterns, the rotation of the Earth, and the shape of the ocean basins. Surface currents are extremely important because they distribute heat around the planet and are a major factor influencing climate around the globe.

What are surface currents?

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. So they can keep water moving in the same direction.

What is the most important cause of surface currents?

Wind is the most important cause of surface currents. When strong, sustained winds blow across the sea, friction drags a thin layer of water into motion. The movement of the very topmost layer of the sea pulls on the water just beneath, which then in turn starts the layer under it moving.

What causes ocean surface currents?

Winds, water density, and tides all drive ocean currents. Coastal and sea floor features influence their location, direction, and speed. Earth’s rotation results in the Coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents.

What causes ocean surface currents quizlet?

Surface currents occur at the surface of the ocean and are caused by global winds; the Gulf Stream is an example. Deep currents occur deep in the ocean and are influenced by water density, salinity, and temperature.

How do winds give direction to the ocean currents?

Wind creates waves that occur on the free surface of bodies of water. These waves are generated by blowing wind over the water surface. Winds push the water on top of ocean currents & causes them to deflect. This is how wind gives direction to ocean current.

What causes surface currents for kids?

Surface currents are usually caused by the wind. As the wind changes, the current may change as well. Currents are also influenced by the rotation of the Earth called the Coriolis effect. This causes currents to flow clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counter clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

How does Earth’s rotation affect the paths of surface currents?

Instead of circulating in a straight pattern, the air deflects toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in curved paths. This deflection is called the Coriolis effect.

What 2 factors affect the paths of surface currents?

B. Surface currents are controlled by three factors: global winds, the Coriolis effect, and continental deflections. surface create surface currents in the ocean. Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions.

What are global winds?

Global winds are winds that occur in belts that go all around the planet (Figure below). Like local winds, global winds are caused by unequal heating of the atmosphere.

What are the three factors that affect surface ocean currents?

Oceanic currents are driven by three main factors:

• The rise and fall of the tides. Tides create a current in the oceans, which are strongest near the shore, and in bays and estuaries along the coast. …
• Wind. Winds drive currents that are at or near the ocean’s surface. …
• Thermohaline circulation.