They fall into two categories: 1) western boundary currents, which are narrow, deep-reaching, and fast-flowing currents, not unlike jet streams, associated with current instability and eddy shedding; and 2) eastern boundary currents, which are shallow, cover a wider region, are of moderate strength, and are often
Why are eastern boundary currents slow?
In the western gyre currents, that volume is passing through a narrower area, so the current must travel faster in order to transport the same amount of water in the same amount of time. On the eastern side of the gyre the current is much wider, so the flow is slower.
How do eastern boundary currents affect climate?
It influences the climate of the east coast of Florida, keeping temperatures warmer in the winter and cooler than the other southeastern states in the summer. Since it also extends toward Europe, it warms western European countries as well.
Why are eastern boundary currents cold?
Winds along the eastern boundaries of all oceans are favorable to upwelling, probably as a result of topographic steering of the westerly winds as they reach land. The upwelling results in uplift of cooler, nutrient rich waters from just below the surface layer and hence higher productivity and cooler waters.
Are eastern boundary currents cold?
The Ocean General Circulation and Climate
Also important for climate are eastern boundary currents, which occur in tropical and subtropical latitudes at the eastern margins of the oceans. These currents are generally cold, shallow, and broad in comparison to western boundary currents.
How are eastern boundary currents different from western boundary currents quizlet?
What differs between western boundary currents and eastern boundary currents? Western boundary currents tend to be hot, fast, and deep. Eastern boundary currents are cold, slow, and shallow.
Why do areas along eastern boundary currents typically have cool dry climates?
Why do areas along eastern boundary currents typically have cool, dry climates? Eastern boundary currents are coming from the poles and contain colder water. Where on the globe does deep-water formation occur?
What is an eastern boundary current of a subtropical gyre?
The subtropical gyre also has an eastern boundary current called the Canary Current. The southern side of the subtropical gyre shrinks poleward (northward) and westward with increasing depth, that is, towards the Gulf Stream.
Why western boundary currents are stronger?
In fact, they are among the fastest surface currents in the ocean. One reason for the westward intensification of boundary currents has to do with the strengthening of the Coriolis effect with latitude. The Coriolis effect is stronger in the latitudes of the westerlies than in the latitudes of the trade winds.
How do eastern boundary currents move water quizlet?
Eastern boundary currents are caused by currents that flow back across the ocean basin. The coriolis effect and continental barriers turn them towards the equator. They carry cold water from high latitudes to lower latitudes.
What is the name of the eastern boundary current in the north Pacific?
It also contains westward flow on the equator and as far north as 3 to 5 N. The subtropical gyre shrinks poleward and westward with depth as in other oceans. The eastern boundary current is the Peru Current.
How do currents affect climate?
Ocean currents act much like a conveyer belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Thus, currents regulate global climate, helping to counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface.
What type of current is the California Current?
The California Current is a cold water Pacific Ocean current that moves southward along the western coast of North America, beginning off southern British Columbia and ending off southern Baja California Sur.
What are the 4 main ocean currents?
Currents, The North Equatorial Current, the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, and the Canary Current.
Why is the Somali Current unusual?
Upwelling behavior: One of the unique characteristics of the Somali Current is the presence of strong coastal upwelling – the only major instance of this happening at a western ocean boundary. … During the winter season the northeast monsoon reverses the northward Somali Coastal Current shutting down coastal upwelling.
What is the Gulf Stream current?
The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean. It extends all the way up the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean.
What ocean is the Somali current in?
The Somali Current flows along the western boundary of northwest Africa in the Arabian Sea. Unlike other strong western boundary currents, the Somali Current reverses seasonally; its reversal has been attributed to the seasonally reversing Indian monsoon wind.
