What drives global winds and ocean currents?
2 min read
Asked by: Todd Patterson
As you already know, sunlight (solar energy, or energy from the Sun) is the primary source of energy for all processes that occur in Earth’s atmosphere and hydrosphere. This means that solar energy is also the primary driver of winds and ocean currents .
Do ocean currents drive global wind systems?
Surface Currents
The sun drives the global wind systems on Earth. When this wind blows over the surface of the ocean, it causes waves to form and the water at the surface to move. The force of the wind pushing on the water results in what are known as surface currents.
What factors drive 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.
How do Global winds control surface currents?
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. The currents then bend to the right, heading north.
What is the primary force that drives ocean waves?
Waves are most commonly caused by wind. Wind-driven waves or surface waves are created by the friction between wind and surface water. As wind blows across the surface of the ocean or a lake the continual disturbance creates a wave crest.
What force drives winds and ocean currents quizlet?
1. Wind is the primary driving force of surface currents. The Coriolis effect deflects the currents to the right (Northern Hemisphere) or left (Southern Hemisphere) of their path of motion (the prevailing wind direction). The location of the continents also affects the pattern of surface currents.
