What are deep density currents?
Deep water currents move very slowly, usually around 0.8-1.2 in (2-3 cm) per second. Basically, these currents are caused by variations in water density, which is directly related to temperature and salt level, or salinity. Colder and saltier water is heavier than warmer, fresher water.
What is a deep current definition?
Deep currents, also known as thermohaline circulation, result from differences in water density. These currents occur when cold, dense water at the poles sinks. Surface water flows to replace sinking water, causing a conveyor belt-like effect of water circulating around the globe on a 1000-year journey.
What do deep sea density currents do?
These currents move water masses through the deep ocean—taking nutrients, oxygen, and heat with them.
What is density current in water?
density current A current that is produced by differences in density. Where a flow of sea water has a greater density than that surrounding it, the denser water will dive beneath the less dense water. The density of sea water is affected by temperature, salinity, and the content of suspended sediment.
What are deep currents caused by?
In contrast to wind-driven surface currents, deep-ocean currents are caused by differences in water density. The process that creates deep currents is called thermohaline circulation—“thermo” referring to temperature and “haline” to saltiness.
What causes deep currents quizlet?
What causes deep water currents to move? It is caused by temperature and salinity of the water. It is from the surface to 200m deep. It is caused by wind action, Earth’s spin, and the shape of the continents.
What are deep currents and how do they form?
Why are surface currents important?
Surface currents are created by three things: global wind patterns, the rotation of the Earth, and the shape of the ocean basins. Surface currents are extremely important because they distribute heat around the planet and are a major factor influencing climate around the globe.
What are surface currents?
A current is a stream of moving water that flows through the ocean. Surface currents are caused mainly by winds but not daily winds. Surface currents are caused by the major wind belts. So they can keep water moving in the same direction.
How are density currents formed and how do they move?
Density currents form when water becomes cold and dense and sinks to the bottom and travels along the see floor, then it reaches warmer water and it warms and rises and repeats the cycle.
What are the two factors that affect the density of deep currents?
Deep ocean currents are density-driven and differ from surface currents in scale, speed, and energy. Water density is affected by the temperature, salinity (saltiness), and depth of the water. The colder and saltier the ocean water, the denser it is.
What are the two causes of density in deep current waters?
These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water’s density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). This process is known as thermohaline circulation. In the Earth’s polar regions ocean water gets very cold, forming sea ice.
What is density current in geology?
density current A current that is produced by differences in density. Where a flow of sea water has a greater density than that surrounding it, the denser water will dive beneath the less dense water. The density of sea water is affected by temperature, salinity, and the content of suspended sediment.
How do water density and temperature affect currents?
Deep below the surface, there are currents that are controlled by water density, which depends on the temperature and salinity of the water. Colder, saline water masses are more dense and sink; while warmer, fresher water masses are less dense and rise.
What causes deep ocean currents to occur?
Deep ocean currents Differences in water density, resulting from the variability of water temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline), also cause ocean currents. This process is known as thermohaline circulation. In cold regions, such as the North Atlantic Ocean, ocean water loses heat to the atmosphere and becomes cold and dense.
What is the difference between a density current and turbidity current?
Density of sea water is affected by temperature, salinity, and the content of suspended sediment. A turbidity current is a gravity-controlled density current, in which the density contrast is due to the high suspended-sediment content. Most deep, and bottom, ocean currents are density currents. Cite this article.