Sage-Tips

How do planetary winds affect ocean currents?

The Planetary Winds: Winds affect ocean currents. The trade winds blow between the Equator and the Tropics. These winds thus move the equatorial water towards the Pole. For example, the South east Trade Winds drift the Equatorial Current to the eastern coast of Australia as the warm East Australian Current.

How does wind influence the movement of water?

When wind blows across a lake’s surface, it pushes the water downwind, inducing periodic currents below the surface (called “internal waves”), which are characterized by vertical movements on the order of 5–10 meters every day.

How does it affect the planetary winds?

The Coriolis effect helps determine the direction of planetary, or global, winds by causing them to curve, or deflect, as the Earth rotates. In the Northern Hemisphere, winds curve to the right in the direction of motion. The difference in temperature between land and sea also influences global winds.

How does planetary winds affect climate?

Prevailing winds bring air from one type of climate to another. For example, warm winds that travel over water tend to collect moisture as they travel; the water vapor in the air will condense as it moves into colder climates, which is why temperate coastal areas often receive heavy rainfall.

What causes planetary winds?

It is caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun and the Earth’s own rotation. Winds have a vast range – from light breezes to natural calamities such as cyclones and hurricanes. Differences in atmospheric pressure cause winds. Planetary winds are the primary winds.

What factors affect the movement of ocean 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 makes the ocean move?

Seawater motions are the result of waves, tides, and currents (Figure below). Ocean movements are the consequence of many separate factors: wind, tides, Coriolis effect, water density differences, and the shape of the ocean basins. Water movements and their causes will be discussed in this lesson.

What is planetary wind in geography?

Planetary Winds Definition – The winds that flow throughout the year from one latitude to another latitude because of latitudinal differences in the air pressure are called planetary winds. They are also called prevailing winds. Planetary winds blow from a single direction over a specific area over the earth.

What are planetary winds describe the main planetary winds on Earth?

The main features of planetary wind are polar winds, westerlies and trade winds. Explanation: Planetary wind refers to those wind that blows from one latitude to another and which are controlled by the factors such as changes in the temperature and pressure, Coriolis effect.

What is meant by planetary wind?

planetary wind. Definition English: Any wind system of the earth’s atmosphere which owes its existence and direction to solar radiation and to the rotation of the earth.

How do planetary winds and pressure belts affect climate?

On a planetary scale, the circulation of air between the hot Equator and the cold North and South Poles creates pressure belts that influence weather. Thus, a wind travelling north from the equator will maintain the velocity acquired at the equator while the Earth under it is moving slower.

How does the wind affect the oceans?

The wind can also push the ocean currents to create a sudden change in climate. This can be seen in the El Nino or the La Nina phenomenon. Both events are created by the ocean currents, and the wind plays a part in it. The wind distributes the warm and the cold water among the oceans. 10. Transport Essential Nutrients

How are coastal currents affected by local winds?

Coastal currents are affected by local winds. Surface ocean currents, which occur on the open ocean, are driven by a complex global wind system. To understand the effects of winds on ocean currents, one first needs to understand the Coriolis force and the Ekman spiral. If the Earth did not rotate and remained stationary,…

Are ocean currents created by wind?

Ocean currents are mostly notcreated by wind. While wind can play a role, often minor, in shaping surfaceocean currents, it is not the main or only factor. Furthermore, wind plays virtually no role at all when it comes to deep ocean currents.

What is the dominant influence on the flow of ocean currents?

The Planetary winds are probably the dominant influence on the flow of ocean currents. The strongest evidence of prevailing winds on the flow of ocean currents can be witnessed in the North Indian Ocean where there is a change in the direction of ocean currents with a change in direction of the monsoon winds.