How Do Density Currents Move

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How Do Density Currents Move?

density current any current in either a liquid or a gas that is kept in motion by the force of gravity acting on differences in density. As a consequence it sinks and flows along the bottom under the effect of gravity. …

How are density currents formed and how do they move?

Density currents form when water becomes cold and dense and sinks to the bottom and travels along the see floor then it reaches warmer water and it warms and rises and repeats the cycle. 11.

Do density currents move horizontally?

In each ocean the major surface currents form circular systems of currents called DENSITY CURRENTS. Earth’s ROTATION causes the Coriolis effect which influences the direction that currents flow. DENSITY CURRENTS move water vertically toward the ocean’s surface.

How do density currents work?

When waters of two different densities meet the dense water will slide below the less dense water. The differing densities cause water to move relative to one-another forming a density current. This is one of the primary mechanisms by which ocean currents are formed.

How do density currents move ocean water?

Dense water sinks below less dense water. This is the principle that drives the deep ocean currents that circulate around the world. A combination of high salinity and low temperature near the surface makes seawater dense enough to sink into the deep ocean and flow along the bottom of the basins.

How are surface currents formed?

Surface currents are created by three things: global wind patterns the rotation of the Earth and the shape of the ocean basins. Surface currents are extremely important because they distribute heat around the planet and are a major factor influencing climate around the globe.

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What are the 4 causes of density currents?

Four Factors That Create Ocean Currents

• Wind. Wind is the single biggest factor in the creation of surface currents. …
• Water Density. Another major factor in the creation of currents is water density caused by the amount of salt in a body of water and its temperature. …
• Ocean Bottom Topography. …
• Coriolis Effect.

What 3 things do density currents circulate?

Currents may also be caused by density differences in water masses due to temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline) variations via a process known as thermohaline circulation. These currents move water masses through the deep ocean—taking nutrients oxygen and heat with them.

In what direction do surface currents move?

The major surface currents are pictured below (Figure below). They flow in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere they flow in the opposite direction. These loops are called gyres.

How do deep currents affect the oceans?

Deep ocean currents are density-driven and differ from surface currents in scale speed and energy. The colder and saltier the ocean water the denser it is. … Density differences in ocean water drive the global conveyor belt.

What role does density play in creating ocean currents?

Differences in water density affect vertical ocean currents (movement of surface ocean water to the bottom of the ocean and movement of deep ocean water to the surface). … Denser water tends to sink while less dense water tends to rise.

What factors determine the movement of surface currents?

Surface currents are controlled by three factors: global winds the Coriolis effect and continental deflections. surface create surface currents in the ocean. Different winds cause currents to flow in different directions. objects from a straight path due to the Earth’s rotation.

What are density currents caused by?

density current Current that is produced by differences in density. Where a flow of sea water has a greater density than that surrounding it the more dense water will dive beneath the less dense water. Density of sea water is affected by temperature salinity and the content of suspended sediment.

How does density work in water?

Just like a solid the density of a liquid equals the mass of the liquid divided by its volume D = m/v. The density of water is 1 gram per cubic centimeter. The density of a substance is the same regardless of the size of the sample.

How do density currents form in polar regions?

Currents Tutorial

Thermohaline circulation begins in the Earth’s polar regions. When ocean water in these areas gets very cold sea ice forms. The surrounding seawater gets saltier increases in density and sinks. … As the seawater gets saltier its density increases and it starts to sink.

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How do density differences cause the large scale ocean circulation?

Deep ocean circulation. Deep ocean circulation is primarily driven by density differences. It is called thermohaline circulation because density differences are due to temperature and salinity. Density differences are small and the flow velocity is low of the order of a few cm/s.

What is density current?

density current any current in either a liquid or a gas that is kept in motion by the force of gravity acting on differences in density. A density difference can exist between two fluids because of a difference in temperature salinity or concentration of suspended sediment.

How do currents move in the ocean?

What makes ocean currents flow? Tides contribute to coastal currents that travel short distances. Major surface ocean currents in the open ocean however are set in motion by the wind which drags on the surface of the water as it blows. The water starts flowing in the same direction as the wind.

What is surface current density?

when charge flows over a surface we describe it by the surface current density K. Consider a ‘ribbon’ of infinitesimal width dL running parallel to the current flow. If the current in this ribbon is dI surface current density is K=dI/dL.

What factors affect currents?

Oceanic currents are driven by three main factors:

• The rise and fall of the tides. Tides create a current in the oceans which are strongest near the shore and in bays and estuaries along the coast. …
• Wind. Winds drive currents that are at or near the ocean’s surface. …
• Thermohaline circulation.

What happens when a current runs into a continent?

Where currents converge or run into a continent water piles up. … Instead the currents move at an angle to the force that generates them–a phenomenon called the Coriolis effect. The Coriolis Effect occurs because the earth’s surface rotates faster at the equator than at the poles.

What affects the movement of ocean currents?

Winds water density and tides all drive ocean currents. Coastal and sea floor features influence their location direction and speed. Earth’s rotation results in the Coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents.

How does the cold and denser water masses sink to the depths of ocean?

How does the cold and denser water masses sink to the depths of ocean? Explanation: The cold and denser water masses formed by surface water sink to the depths of the ocean by thermohaline circulation. It is circulation of ocean water due to density gradient.

How will surface currents move if there were no continents?

If there were no continents these surface currents would travel all the way around the Earth parallel to the equator. … Since these currents come from the equator they are warm water currents bringing warm water to the higher latitudes and distributing heat throughout the ocean.

Why do surface currents move in circular patterns?

As wind or an ocean current moves the Earth spins underneath it. … The Coriolis effect bends the direction of surface currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis effect causes winds and currents to form circular patterns.

What happens to a current when it comes in contact with a continent or landmass?

In addition to the Coriolis Effect land masses or continents can influence ocean currents by causing them to be deflected from their original path. Study the map of ocean currents to see how the currents change directions as they are deflected from land masses.

What alters the density of Earth’s ocean?

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