what common household item is used in this video to demonstrate the ekman spiral?

What is the Ekman spiral and what is its relationship to upwelling and downwelling?

As wind blows along a coastline, Ekman transport moves the surface layer in a direction 90^o to the wind. … In any coastal upwelling location, if the winds reverse, surface water moves towards the shore and downwelling is the result. Upwelling can also occur due to geological features of the ocean floor.

What causes Western intensification quizlet?

salinity and gravity. Western intensification causes: a steeper slope of surface water in the western section of the gyre as compared to the eastern section of the gyre. very swift western boundary currents.

Which of the following happens during El Nino?

During an El Niño event, the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become significantly warmer than usual. … It also reduces the upwelling of cooler, nutrient-rich waters from the deep—shutting down or reversing ocean currents along the equator and along the west coast of South and Central America.

How is Ekman transport calculated?

At the ocean surface, uE=τwρ√2fKv and vE=−τwρ√2fKv (from Equations 7.9 and ref7. 6b}, that is, the Ekman velocity is at an angle of 45∘ to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere (and to the left of the wind in the Southern Hemisphere) due to the Coriolis force.

How does the ocean water move?

Ocean water is constantly moving, and not only in the form of waves and tides. Ocean currents flow like vast rivers, sweeping along predictable paths. … Major surface ocean currents in the open ocean, however, are set in motion by the wind, which drags on the surface of the water as it blows.

What is the difference between western and eastern boundary currents?

To move the same volume of water through each side, western boundary currents are faster, deeper, and narrower than eastern boundary currents. … In the same way, western boundary currents are not only faster, but also deeper than eastern boundary currents, as they move the same volume through a narrower space.

What are the 5 circulation circles in the 3 main oceans called generic term )?

Ocean gyres are large system of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and forces created by Earth’s rotation. The five major circulation patterns formed by the currents on this map are the world’s five major ocean gyres: North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, North Pacific, and South Pacific.

What describes a theoretical direction of Ekman transport in the Southern Hemisphere?

What describes the theoretical direction of Ekman transport in the Southern Hemisphere? 90 degrees to the left of wind direction.

What is planetary boundary layer height?

The planetary boundary layer (PBL) is the lowest part of the atmosphere, ranging anywhere between 100 and 2000 m above the surface of the ground.

Why the boundary layer is important in fluid flow analysis?

Engineers call this layer the boundary layer because it occurs on the boundary of the fluid. The details of the flow within the boundary layer are very important for many problems in aerodynamics, including wing stall, the skin friction drag on an object, and the heat transfer that occurs in high speed flight.

What is the Walker circulation cell What is the Walker circulation cell?

The Walker circulation, also known as the Walker cell, is a conceptual model of the air flow in the tropics in the lower atmosphere (troposphere). According to this model, parcels of air follow a closed circulation in the zonal and vertical directions.

What is the origin of the sediment that forms a beach and how do human activities disrupt the supply of that sediment?

What is the origin of the sediment that forms a beach and how do human activities disrupt the supply of that sediment? Sediment comes from waves, tides, and currents erode cliffs, wash away dunes, and transport sand to and from the beach. Identify some of the costs and benefits of coastal armor.

What is the relationship between Walker cell trade winds and El Nino and La Niña quizlet?

During El Nino what happens to the Walker Circulation: It weakens/ reverse causing the ocean surface to be warmer than average because less or no upwelling occurs in the eastern Pacific. During La Nina what happens to the Walker Circulation: It strengthens resulting in colder ocean temperatures due to more upwelling.

What is the Ekman spiral and what is its cause?

An Ekman spiral (A) is a rotating column of water that forms when water moves at an angle to the wind direction due to the Coriolis Effect. The net effect of the rotating water (B) is movement at right angle to the wind direction.

What are upwellings and Downwellings?

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