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An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the forces acting upon the water, such as the Earth's rotation, wind, temperature, 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 thousands of kilometers, 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, because of the effect of the California Current. From Wikipedia under the
GNU Free Documentation License How did the prevailing winds and ocean current add to the profitability of the triangle trade? Q. How did the prevailing winds and ocean current add to the profitability of the triangle trade? Asked by Paul H - Mon Apr 20 14:20:15 2009 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments Which ocean current is responsible for causing El Nino in South America? Q. Which ocean current is responsible for causing El Nino in South America? Asked by JAD - Wed Dec 10 19:22:59 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments A. It's caused by the warm Equatorial Current replacing the cold Humboldt Current. "El Nino's warm current of nutrient-poor tropical water, heated by its eastward passage in the Equatorial Current, replaces the cold, nutrient-rich surface water of the Humboldt Current, also known as the Peru Current, which support great populations of food fish." "The waters off the west coast of South America are normally very cold for their latitudes. At Lima, Peru (12 S), ocean temperatures vary from about 16 C in the winter to about 20 C in the summer. This cold current of water extends nearly to the equator before turning to the west. Normally, for a period of just a few weeks around Christmas each year, this cold water is replaced by a warm current.… [cont.] Answered by Elmyr - Wed Dec 10 19:38:16 2008 What is the cause of atmospheric circulation and ocean currents?
Q. Explain the causes of atmospheric circulation and oceanic currents. How do ocean current influence the atmosphere in terms of weather and climate? Asked by Victoria F - Fri Feb 27 03:19:56 2009 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments A. Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the earth's surface causing high and low pressure zones. Air under high pressure will naturally try to escape to areas of low pressure and that's how air moves about. Ocean currents are very complicated and rely on a number of things. But as far as I remember currents are dependent on the mixing of cold and warm water, due to changing atmospheric conditions between the coast and the middle of the ocean. Tides and the gravitational pull of the moon/sun could have a smaller part to play as well. Wind also plays a big role in the surface movement of water. But we all know that ocean currents can go quite deep and can sometimes even be a result of inter-strata mixing in some cases. Answered by i_wear_sensible_shoes - Fri Feb 27 10:09:17 2009 From Yahoo Answer Search: "Ocean current"  tritown.gmnews.com Howell Tri Town News, NJ Since that open space purchase was made in conjunction with Ocean County, Jackson put up $1 million and the county put up a little more than $2 million. "We need to be more aggressive and not go in the opposite direction and help the developers," ...  hamptonroads.com The Virginian-Pilot, VA On an outdoor stage with a view of the Atlantic Ocean , an Indian boy was undergoing a vision quest. He had swallowed a potion and imagined he was surrounded by fierce creatures. Right about then, the audience for "1607: First Landing," an outdoor drama ...  wenatcheeworld.com The Wenatchee World Online, WA Only Atlantic City and Ocean City, both in New Jersey, ranked higher, the report said. "I think we'll see some price corrections, but not to a great extent. Certainly not 30 percent," said Brian Vincent, co-owner of Wenatchee's Pacific Appraisal ... From Google News Search: "Ocean current"  renewable-energy-sources.com admin 2009-05-22 09:15:11 The United States and other countries are pursuing . ocean current. energy, including Japan, China, and some European Union countries; however, marine . current. .  oceanacidification.wordpress.com Anne-Marin Nisumaa 2009-06-17 08:27:17 Until the . current. study, which used a computer model of the Earth's climate system and biosphere to simulate the effect of geoengineering on climate and the . ocean's. chemistry, the potential impact of such a scheme on . ocean. acidification ...  current.com unknown 2009-06-02 12:32:35 An airplane seat, a life jacket, metallic debris and signs of fuel were found in the middle of the Atlantic . Ocean. on Tuesday by Brazilian military pilots. From Google Blog Search: "Ocean current" |
