What drives the North Pacific Current?

What drives the North Pacific Current?

This two-gyre circulation in the North Pacific is driven by the trade and westerly winds. This is one of the best examples of all of Earth’s oceans where these winds drive a two-gyre circulation.

How does the North Pacific Current move?

Pacific Ocean …the movement known as the North Pacific Current. The surface waters of the Bering Sea circulate in a counterclockwise direction. The southward extension of the Kamchatka Current forms the cold Oya Current, which flows to the east of the Japanese island of Honshu to meet the warm Kuroshio waters in…

What are surface currents driven by?

Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earth’s rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents.

How does a current flow in the Pacific Ocean?

The North Pacific Current (sometimes referred to as the North Pacific Drift) is a slow warm water current that flows west-to-east between 30 and 50 degrees north in the Pacific Ocean. The current forms the southern part of the North Pacific Subpolar Gyre and the northern part of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.

Is the North Equatorial Current warm or cold?

1. North Equatorial Current (Warm): Normally, the north equatorial current is formed between the equator and 10° N latitude. This current is generated because of upwelling of cold water near the west coast of Africa.

How does the North Pacific Gyre work?

In the Northern Hemisphere, ocean currents are deflected to the right, in a clockwise motion. In the Southern Hemisphere, ocean currents are pushed to the left, in a counterclockwise motion. Beneath surface currents of the gyre, the Coriolis effect results in what is called an Ekman spiral.

How did the North Pacific Gyre form?

The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is formed by four currents rotating clockwise around an area of 20 million square kilometers (7.7 million square miles): the California current, the North Equatorial current, the Kuroshio current, and the North Pacific current.

What are surface currents driven by quizlet?

Surface currents in the ocean are primarily driven by the wind. a ring-like system of ocean currents rotating clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere caused by the Coriolis Effect.

What are the surface currents?

Surface currents are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. These currents bring heat from the tropics to the polar regions; the Gulf Stream, for instance, brings warm water along the eastern coast of the US up to Northern Europe.

Which way does the North Pacific gyre flow?

The major gyre in the North Pacific Ocean is called the North Pacific gyre. This gyre is bounded by the North Equatorial Current, which moves northeastward along the western side of the North Pacific gyre.

What are the major currents in the Pacific Ocean?

Major Currents. The motion of gyres is determined by the direction of the prevailing winds and the influence of the Coriolis effect. The major gyre in the North Pacific Ocean is called the North Pacific gyre. This gyre is bounded by the North Equatorial Current, which moves northeastward along the western side of the North Pacific gyre.

What type of current is in the North Pacific Gyre?

Major Currents Gyres are large rotating current systems in the ocean. The major gyre in the North Pacific Ocean is called the North Pacific gyre. This gyre is bounded by the North Equatorial Current, which moves northeastward along the western side of the North Pacific gyre.

What are the currents in the Indian Ocean?

Indian Ocean Monsoon •Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre –Agulhas Current –Australian Current –Leeuwin Current Indian Ocean Circulation 4/10/2018 26 •North Pacific Subtropical Gyre –Kuroshio Current –North Pacific Current –California Current –North Equatorial Current –Alaskan Current Pacific Ocean Circulation

What are the climate effects of North Atlantic currents?

Climate Effects of North Atlantic Currents 4/10/2018 24 •Monsoons– seasonal reversal of winds over northern Indian Ocean •Heat Capacity Differential •Northeast monsoon – winter •Southwest monsoon – summer Indian Ocean Circulation Indian Ocean Circulation 4/10/2018 25