What are the characteristics of ocean currents ?
Answers
Ocean Currents:-
When large quantities of oceans water starts moving at normal speed for a long distance in a certain direction, it is known as ocean currents.
Ocean Currents have the following characteristics:-
• The currents flow into the seas like a huge river. But the speed and width of their flow is not the same.
• Water currents also follow the law of geography just like winds due to the influence of Coriolis force.
• The direction of currents in the northern part of the Indian Ocean is determined by seasonal winds, not by the force of force. This is an exception to the law of water streams.
• Warm currents flow towards the cold ocean and cold currents flow towards the warm ocean.
• In the lower latitudes, cold water currents flow on the western coasts and warm water currents on the eastern coasts.
Oceanic currents affect the temperature conditions in the area through which hot currents raise the surface temperature. The area where hot and cold streams meet is the most important fishing area in the world.
Example for this type of condition is, the coastal region of Japan and the eastern coast of North America.
☟Answer✎
- The driving force of currents is the frictional drag of winds, along with the interplay of the Coriolis force, density differences caused by temperature and salinity, the configuration of the continents and ocean floor, and astronomical forces, like the moon. Currents can be broken down into two forms of circulation.
- People have used ocean currents to explore the Earth.
- Ocean currents affect the shipping industry, commercial and recreational fishing, and recreational navigation for boats.
- Earth's rotation results in the Coriolis effect which also influences ocean currents.