Table of Contents
How do continents influence global winds?
Continental areas tend to become regions of relative low pressure, while high pressure in the lower troposphere becomes more prevalent offshore. As the winds travel from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure, a persistent onshore flow develops over large landmasses in the lower troposphere.
What is Continental deflection?
Continental deflection is the term used to describe the way that currents are deflected off of continental land masses.
How do global winds circulate?
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. Warm air rises at the equator and moves toward the poles. At the poles, the cooler air sinks and moves back toward the equator.
How do continents and wind affect surface currents?
In addition to the Coriolis Effect, land masses or continents can influence ocean currents by causing them to be deflected from their original path. Surface currents have a considerable effect on the climate of areas along their path.
What causes Continental deflection?
Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions. objects from a straight path due to the Earth’s rotation. E. Continental Deflections When surface currents meet continents, the currents deflect, or change direction.
What causes global ocean surface currents quizlet?
What causes surface currents to move? It is caused by wind action, Earth’s spin, and the shape of the continents. Also, the speed, direction, and volume of water can be affected by the uneven heating of the atmosphere.
How does the Coriolis effect affect the surface of the Earth?
The main cause of the Coriolis effect is the Earth’s rotation. As the Earth spins in a counter-clockwise direction on its axis, anything flying or flowing over a long distance above its surface is deflected. As latitude increases and the speed of the Earth’s rotation decreases, the Coriolis effect increases.
What causes currents to flow in different directions?
Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions. objects from a straight path due to the Earth’s rotation. Also, what are the 3 factors that directly affect surface currents in the ocean? List the three factors that control surface currents: Global winds, continental deflection and temperature, and the Coriolis effect.
How are ocean currents related to global climate?
Ocean currents act much like a conveyor belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Thus, ocean currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface.