This chapter describes the major types of ocean currents. Depending on the character of forces that act upon a water body, and on the state of balance of these forces, the resulting motions can be different. If water movements in a small part of the ocean are considered, the effect of ...
Discover what causes ocean currents, the types of ocean currents, and their differences. Learn what are the primary driving forces behind both...
Tide, any of the cyclic deformations of one astronomical body caused by the gravitational forces exerted by others. The most familiar are the periodic variations in sea level on Earth that correspond to changes in the relative positions of the Moon and t
They are often covered with abundant vegetation, the seeds of which have been carried there, for example, by air and water currents or by birds; but the plant variety is relatively limited. A list of the world’s largest islands is provided in the table. Largest islands of the world ...
Some marine bacteria can interact with diatoms, another type of marine microbe, in such a way that influences the cycling of silicon in the ocean. Diatoms, a group of unicellular algae, are characterized by their highly ornate two-part shell-like structures made from silica. ...
The Causes of Different ClimatesThe differences in the climate from place to place are caused by climate controls. The major climate controls are latitude, altitude, land and water bodies, ocean currents, and storm centers.Latitudes make climates colder toward the north and south poles (high ...
Density Currents Stream like movement of ocean water far below the surface Stream like movement of ocean water far below the surface Caused by Caused by – Differences in density –Change in temperature –Change in salinity What Effects Deep Currents? Change in temperature Change in temperature –...
They are classified based on where in the water they live and how they move. Nekton are able to swim freely under their own power, and are usually larger, more complex animals. Plankton are not able to swim freely, and drift in the ocean currents. They're usually smaller, less complex ...
However, some of these nutrients do find their way to the open ocean far from shore, and contribute to the formation of blooms in the open ocean. Their movement is aided by the wind and by ocean currents. Algae blooms in the open ocean are not usually harmful; instead, they provide many...
(oneterawatt [TW] = one trillion watts), energy experts speculate that fully built-out tidal power systems could supply much of this demand in the future. Estimates of tidal stream power—which usesoceancurrents to drive underwater blades in a manner similar to wind power generation—in ...