What two primary factors jointly drive the Earth's large-scale ocean currents?
Wind & Density
Wind & Density is correct.
Large-scale ocean circulation has two main drivers. Wind drives the surface currents: the trade winds and westerlies, deflected by the Coriolis effect, set up the great ocean gyres such as the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio.
Density differences drive the deep thermohaline circulation: cold, salty water is denser and sinks (for example in the North Atlantic), creating the global conveyor belt. Temperature and salinity act through density, so density is the combined factor.
Tides caused by the Moon produce periodic rise and fall of sea level, not permanent large-scale currents, and earthquakes and volcanoes cause occasional tsunamis. Hence wind and density together drive the ocean currents.
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Important Questions from Oceanography
The Gulf Stream is found in
Consider the following statements :
1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds
2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following statement is not correct?
I. Generally, warm ocean currents originate near the equator and flow towards the poles.
II. Gulfstreams are cold water currents.
Which of the following ocean currents does not flow into the Pacific Ocean?
Which one of the following is a cold ocean current ?
