Question

Describ the type of ocean currents, state the factors responsible for causing the currents

Answer 1

a large movt of water is called current. types of ocean currents are labrodar current, responsible factors are wind

Answer 2

Answer:

Causes of Ocean Currents: The ocean currents have regular pattern of circulation of water around the oceans. The origin and nature of the movement of the currents are related to the following factors:

i) Level of Salinity: The higher the level of salinity of ocean water, the denser it is. Water with less salinity therefore flows, over the denser saline water. For example the Mediterranean Sea is more saline as compared to the Atlantic Ocean; so the Atlantic water flows into Mediterranean Sea’s surface.

ii) Temperature: The oceans near the Tropics and Equator are much warmer than the ocean water in the polar or temperate regions. Therefore, warm Equatorial water move towards poles as warm currents, while cold ocean currents move towards Equator as cold ocean currents.

iii) The Earth’s Rotation: Since the speed of rotation of the earth is maximum at the Equator, all moving bodies (winds and ocean currents) move in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere, e.g., Canary current and Gulf stream in Northern hemisphere and Peruvian and West Wind Drift in Southern hemisphere.