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An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, Coriolis force, temperature and salinity differences and tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun. Depth contours, shoreline configurations and interaction with other currents influence a current's direction and strength. Ocean currents can flow for great distances, and together they create the great flow of the global conveyor belt which plays a dominant part in determining the climate of many of the Earth’s regions. Perhaps the most striking example is the Gulf Stream, which makes northwest Europe much more temperate than any other region at the same latitude. Another example is the Hawaiian Islands, where the climate is cooler (sub-tropical) than the tropical latitudes in which they are located, due to the effect of the California Current. From Wikipedia under the
GNU Free Documentation License What is Ocean Current and how it changes the climate? Q. There are so many factors that change climate. They are like volcanic erruption , amount of sunlight reaching the earth etc. But ocean current also bring change in climate but how? Asked by global - Mon Nov 27 06:30:10 2006 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments A. An ocean current is any more or less permanent or continuous, directed movement of ocean water that flows in one of the Earth's oceans. The currents are generated from the forces acting upon the water like the earth's rotation, the wind, the temperature and salinity differences and the gravitation of the moon. The depth contours, the shoreline and other currents influence the current's direction and strength. Description Ocean currents can flow for thousands of kilometers. They are very important in determining the climates of the continents, especially those regions bordering on the ocean. Perhaps the most striking example is the Gulf Stream, which makes northwest Europe much more temperate than any other region at the same latitude.… [cont.] Answered by catzpaw - Mon Nov 27 08:21:09 2006 What's the difference between an ocean current and a river? Q. There were two parts to this question; What are the similarities and differences of ocean currents and rivers? The similarity is they're both the flow of fluids. What's the difference? Asked by livelaughlove - Wed Feb 18 19:19:31 2009 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments A. Um... well rivers occur on land and ocean currents occur... well... in the ocean! Answered by enrique0149 - Wed Feb 18 19:29:43 2009 Is an ocean gyre a surface or deep ocean current?
Q. Thanks! Asked by Emerson - Sat Jan 23 16:30:05 2010 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments A. An oceanic gyre is any large-scale system of rotating ocean currents, particularly those involved with large wind movements. Gyres are caused by the Coriolis effect; planetary vorticity along with horizontal and vertical friction, which determine the circulation patterns from the wind curl (torque). Answered by Emma - Sat Jan 23 17:00:19 2010 From Yahoo Answer Search: "Ocean current"  sat-ocean.com 727px x 1388px | 186.50kB [source page] Sea Surface Temperature maps provided daily to the public during the cross Atlantic sailing race Route du Rhum 2006  maps.grida.no 671px x 550px | 61.50kB [source page] Ocean currents and sea ice extent From Yahoo Image Search: "Ocean current"  sott.net unknown Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:16:33 GM The . ocean current. that gives western Europe its relatively balmy climate is stuttering, raising fears that it might fail entirely and plunge the continent into a mini ice age. The dramatic finding comes from a study of ocean circulation ...  energyefficientnews.com Alex Ferreras Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:40:04 GM Hydrokinetic power potentially can be developed offshore through new technologies that seek to convert wave, tidal and . ocean current. energy to electricity. FERC will have the primary responsibility to manage the licensing of such ...  usanews123.blogspot.com Hot Trends News Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:22:00 GM Cornell faces tough first round opponent in the temple, and the best team in the heart of the Conference and the Atlantic . Ocean. 10 gritty defensive team, but to look at Cornell as a selection of upset attractive. ... From Google Blog Search: "Ocean current" |
