This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: What is surface ocean circulation primarily driven by? What will be an ideal ... (Read 103 times)

jilianpiloj

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 521
What is surface ocean circulation primarily driven by?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What effect does the formation of sea ice in polar regions have on the density of seawater?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

macagn

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 345
Answer to Question 1

Answer: The wind. As winds blow across the ocean, frictional forces set the surface water into motion. The Coriolis force and interface with the land act to modify the circulation, but the driving force is the wind.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: When seawater in polar regions freezes only the water freezes, the salt is left behind. The surrounding seawater experiences an increase in salinity, which brings an increase in density. The cold, denser, saltier seawater sinks, producing a pattern of vertical movement. Movement is also horizontal as cold dense water flows along the bottom to the deeper parts of the ocean floor.




macagn

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 345

 

Did you know?

Egg cells are about the size of a grain of sand. They are formed inside of a female's ovaries before she is even born.

Did you know?

Historic treatments for rheumatoid arthritis have included gold salts, acupuncture, a diet consisting of apples or rhubarb, nutmeg, nettles, bee venom, bracelets made of copper, prayer, rest, tooth extractions, fasting, honey, vitamins, insulin, snow collected on Christmas, magnets, and electric convulsion therapy.

Did you know?

The first war in which wide-scale use of anesthetics occurred was the Civil War, and 80% of all wounds were in the extremities.

Did you know?

The toxic levels for lithium carbonate are close to the therapeutic levels. Signs of toxicity include fine hand tremor, polyuria, mild thirst, nausea, general discomfort, diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, muscular weakness, lack of coordination, ataxia, giddiness, tinnitus, and blurred vision.

Did you know?

It is widely believed that giving a daily oral dose of aspirin to heart attack patients improves their chances of survival because the aspirin blocks the formation of new blood clots.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library