Ekman transport: Difference between revisions
wikademia>Frokor m nn - interwiki |
Corrected mistake on the overall motion of the ocean compared to the surface wind direction |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
'''Ekman transport''' is a name given to the natural process by which each layer of water in the ocean drags with it the layer beneath. Thus the movement of each layer of water is affected by the movement of the layer above. Each successive layer feels the force of the surface layer a little less, similar to the way sound is transported through air particles. With each wave-length transport the wave becomes weaker and weaker, which is why someone at a distance has more difficulty hearing you than someone close to you. | '''Ekman transport''' is a name given to the natural process by which each layer of water in the ocean drags with it the layer beneath. Thus the movement of each layer of water is affected by the movement of the layer above. Each successive layer feels the force of the surface layer a little less, similar to the way sound is transported through air particles. With each wave-length transport the wave becomes weaker and weaker, which is why someone at a distance has more difficulty hearing you than someone close to you. | ||
It is closely related to the [[Ekman spiral]] | It is closely related to the [[Ekman spiral]. In the [[Northern Hemipshere]] the surface ocean movement is 45° to the right of direction of surface wind. In the [[Southern Hemisphere]] the motion of suface ocean movement is 45V to the left of of surface winds. This difference in direction is caused by the [[Coriolis Effect]]. The average movement of ocean water at all depths is 90° to the rigt in the Northern Hemisphere, and 90° to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. If such a current transports water away from a coast, it creates [[upwelling]] of deep, nutrient rich sea water. This has the effect of creating good fishing regions along coasts where this phenomenon occurs. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 18:46, 2 February 2007
Ekman transport is a name given to the natural process by which each layer of water in the ocean drags with it the layer beneath. Thus the movement of each layer of water is affected by the movement of the layer above. Each successive layer feels the force of the surface layer a little less, similar to the way sound is transported through air particles. With each wave-length transport the wave becomes weaker and weaker, which is why someone at a distance has more difficulty hearing you than someone close to you.
It is closely related to the [[Ekman spiral]. In the Northern Hemipshere the surface ocean movement is 45° to the right of direction of surface wind. In the Southern Hemisphere the motion of suface ocean movement is 45V to the left of of surface winds. This difference in direction is caused by the Coriolis Effect. The average movement of ocean water at all depths is 90° to the rigt in the Northern Hemisphere, and 90° to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. If such a current transports water away from a coast, it creates upwelling of deep, nutrient rich sea water. This has the effect of creating good fishing regions along coasts where this phenomenon occurs.