Ocean Circulation and Gyres Overview

Study Notes

Ocean Circulation

Oceans are vast, dynamic systems with constantly flowing water, ranging from small eddies to large currents and gyres.
Circulation is driven by salinity and temperature differences, winds, Earth's rotation, and landmasses.
Ocean gyres are large circular currents.
Gyres are formed by surface winds and the Coriolis effect.
The Coriolis effect deflects water flow clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ocean Gyres

Gyres have a significant impact on climate, distributing heat absorbed from the sun throughout the globe.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a notable example of a gyre's accumulation effect.
There are five major ocean gyres: North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian.
The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is the largest, covering approximately 20 million square kilometers and exhibiting four prevailing currents.

Wind-Driven Surface Currents

Prevailing winds create surface currents, forming gyres, upwellings, and other patterns.
Global wind patterns (Hadley cells) are driven by uneven solar heating; rising air near the equator creates global wind patterns.
Three types of global winds: Trade winds, Prevailing Westerlies, and Polar Easterlies
Upwelling is the upward movement of nutrient-rich bottom water to the surface, driven by wind blowing parallel to coastlines. Upwelling areas are often highly productive marine ecosystems.
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a significant climate cycle influenced by wind patterns in the Pacific Ocean and can have far-reaching impacts.

Thermohaline Circulation

Thermohaline circulation is a global ocean current driven by temperature and salinity differences in water, forming the "Global Oceanic Conveyor Belt."
Colder, denser water sinks at the poles, while warmer water rises at the equator.
Salinity variations affect water density; higher salinity leads to greater density.
Thermohaline circulation helps distribute heat globally.

Ocean Currents and Climate

Ocean currents significantly influence regional climates, moderating temperatures.
Water's high heat capacity stabilizes coastal regions.
Warm ocean currents can contribute to higher precipitation in some regions. Conversely, cold currents can lead to lower precipitation and cooler temperatures.
Ocean currents are crucial to the planet's heat distribution and greatly affect climate patterns.
Climate change can disrupt ocean circulation patterns by affecting temperature and salinity gradients.

Description

Explore the fascinating world of ocean circulation and gyres in this quiz. Learn how factors like salinity, temperature, and winds drive these vast systems and impact global climate. Test your knowledge about the major ocean gyres and their significance in the Earth's ecosystem.