ocean surface circulation
DESCRIPTION
Ocean Surface Circulation. Motion in the Ocean, Part I, or Why does the ocean have currents, and why do they move in circles?. Two types of Ocean Circulation:. Surface Circulation -- Wind-driven Deep Circulation -- Density (T,S) driven. Atmospheric Circulation. Temperature and Pressure. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Ocean Surface Ocean Surface CirculationCirculation
Motion in the Ocean, Motion in the Ocean, Part I, or Why does the Part I, or Why does the ocean have currents, and ocean have currents, and
why do they move in why do they move in circles?circles?
Two types of Ocean Two types of Ocean Circulation:Circulation:
Surface Circulation -- Wind-Surface Circulation -- Wind-drivendriven
Deep Circulation -- Density Deep Circulation -- Density (T,S) driven(T,S) driven
Atmospheric Atmospheric CirculationCirculation
Temperature and Temperature and PressurePressure
As the Earth’s surface is As the Earth’s surface is heated, air is warmed, expands heated, air is warmed, expands and rises (Low P)and rises (Low P)
Warm air carries water vaporWarm air carries water vapor In the upper atmosphere the air In the upper atmosphere the air cools and sinks (High P)cools and sinks (High P)
This round-trip is called a This round-trip is called a “cell”“cell”
Things get Things get interesting!interesting!
On a rotating planet, moving On a rotating planet, moving objects appear to be objects appear to be deflecteddeflected
Why is this?Why is this?
Coriolis Deflection Coriolis Deflection (aka “I Could Care Less” (aka “I Could Care Less”
force)force) Apparent force due to Earth’s Apparent force due to Earth’s rotationrotation
Deflection in path of motion when Deflection in path of motion when viewed from a rotating reference viewed from a rotating reference frameframe
Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis (1835)Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis (1835) Familiar from merry-go-roundsFamiliar from merry-go-rounds Significant only for large distances Significant only for large distances (not toilets and billiards!)(not toilets and billiards!)
Coriolis “movie”Coriolis “movie”
Coriolis DeflectionCoriolis Deflection
Consequences of Consequences of CoriolisCoriolis
Moving fluids (atmosphere and Moving fluids (atmosphere and ocean) turn to the ocean) turn to the rightright in in the Northern Hemispherethe Northern Hemisphere
Moving fluids (atmosphere and Moving fluids (atmosphere and ocean) turn to the ocean) turn to the leftleft in in the Southern Hemispherethe Southern Hemisphere
Global Wind Global Wind CirculationCirculation
Wind-Driven Ocean Wind-Driven Ocean CirculationCirculation
Steady winds produce waves and Steady winds produce waves and set the surface water in motionset the surface water in motion
Moving water is deflected to Moving water is deflected to the right (N.Hemisphere) or the right (N.Hemisphere) or left (S.Hemisphere)left (S.Hemisphere)
This starts the main “gyre” This starts the main “gyre” motion of the surface oceanmotion of the surface ocean
Surface Ocean Surface Ocean CirculationCirculation
Main FeaturesMain Features Five large gyresFive large gyres Antarctic Circumpolar CurrentAntarctic Circumpolar Current Equatorial CountercurrentEquatorial Countercurrent Velocities vary -- fastest are Velocities vary -- fastest are meters/secmeters/sec
101066 m m33/sec (Sverdrup) = all /sec (Sverdrup) = all the riversthe rivers
Gulf Stream - Benj Gulf Stream - Benj FranklinFranklin
Gulf StreamGulf Stream
So, do the gyres So, do the gyres just follow the just follow the
winds?winds? Not exactly! But the winds get Not exactly! But the winds get the motion in the ocean the motion in the ocean startedstarted
The oceans respond by flowing The oceans respond by flowing and turningand turning
Water piles up in the center Water piles up in the center of gyres -- several meters of gyres -- several meters highhigh
Ekman Transport -- Ekman Transport -- moves water 90° to the moves water 90° to the
windswinds
Upwelling and Oregon’s Upwelling and Oregon’s OceanOcean
Winter winds from the south -- Winter winds from the south -- downwellingdownwelling
Summer winds from the north -- Summer winds from the north -- upwellingupwelling
Winter SummerWinter Summer
Global Wind Global Wind CirculationCirculation
Geostrophic CurrentsGeostrophic Currents
CoriolisCoriolis deflection plus the deflection plus the Pressure Pressure GradientGradient steers the currents around steers the currents around
the gyresthe gyres
Northern Hemisphere Northern Hemisphere GyresGyres
Surface CirculationSurface Circulation
How do we track ocean How do we track ocean circulation?circulation?
Fixed Buoys -- measure Fixed Buoys -- measure current speed and directioncurrent speed and direction
Drifters -- travel with the Drifters -- travel with the currents and transmit their currents and transmit their locationlocation
Beach Swap Meets!Beach Swap Meets!
Tracking Currents:Tracking Currents:The Story of the Lost The Story of the Lost
NikesNikes 1:1: 60,000 shoes 60,000 shoes spilled, May 1990spilled, May 1990
2-8:2-8: 1990-’91 1990-’91 9:9: 1993 1993 10:10: 1994 1994