GEOG 1290 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Antarctic Circumpolar Current, Ocean Gyre, Coriolis Force
1 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Governed by salinity and temperature and to a lesser extent, hydrostatic pressure. Conductivity, temperature, and depth (ctd) oceanographic instrument. However, currents move slowly surface and deep currents. Any persistent, dominantly horizontal flow of ocean water . Driven mostly by wind blowing over the surface. Lag behind wind speed so often called drifts. Produced by winds, coriolis force and land masses. West wind drift: cooler currents + often associated with upwelling (e. g, california current) N-atlantic drift breaks from subtropical gyre caveses(?) areas for north to remain ice free (?) Subtropical gyre corresponds to the subtropical high pressure. N. and s. equatorial currents corresponds to the trade winds. West winds around antarctica create circumpolar current. Produced by distinctive combinations of temperature and salinity. Defining temperature and salinity are acquired at the surface. Surface warms especially in the summer. Layer of rapid temperature drop thermocline. North atlantic very deep water because colder more salty more dense.
