Lecture 1. Course Introduction
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Transcript Lecture 1. Course Introduction
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
As the Earth’s surface is heated, air
is warmed, expands and rises (Low P)
Warm air carries water vapor
In the upper atmosphere the air
cools and sinks (High P)
This round-trip is called a “cell”
Things get interesting!
On a rotating planet, moving objects
appear to be deflected
Why is this?
Coriolis Deflection
(aka “I Could Care Less” force)
Apparent force due to Earth’s rotation
Deflection in path of motion when
viewed from a rotating reference frame
Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis (1835)
Familiar from merry-go-rounds
Significant only for large distances
(not toilets and billiards!)
Coriolis Deflection
Consequences of Coriolis
Moving fluids (atmosphere and ocean)
turn to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere
Moving fluids (atmosphere and ocean)
turn to the left in the Southern
Hemisphere
Global Wind Circulation
Wind-Driven Ocean Circulation
Steady winds produce waves and set the
surface water in motion
Moving water is deflected to the right
(N.Hemisphere) or left (S.Hemisphere)
This starts the main “gyre” motion of
the surface ocean
Surface Ocean Circulation
Main Features
Five large gyres
Antarctic Circumpolar Current
Equatorial Countercurrent
Velocities vary -- fastest are meters/sec
106 m3/sec (Sverdrup) = all the rivers
Gulf Stream - Benj Franklin
Gulf Stream
So, do the gyres just
follow the winds?
Not exactly! But the winds get the
motion in the ocean started
The oceans respond by flowing and
turning
Water piles up in the center of gyres
-- several meters high
Ekman Transport -- moves
water 90° to the winds
Upwelling and Oregon’s Ocean
Winter winds from the south -downwelling
Summer winds from the north -upwelling
Winter
Summer
Global Wind Circulation
Geostrophic Currents
Coriolis deflection plus the Pressure Gradient
steers the currents around the gyres
Northern Hemisphere Gyres
Surface Circulation
How do we track ocean
circulation?
Fixed Buoys -- measure current
speed and direction
Drifters -- travel with the currents
and transmit their location
Beach Swap Meets!
Tracking Currents:
The Story of the Lost Nikes
1: 60,000 shoes
spilled, May 1990
2-8: 1990-’91
9: 1993
10: 1994
Marine Debris: Pacific Trash
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