Ocean Currents: Physical Drivers in a Changing World

Ocean Currents: Physical Drivers in a Changing World provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the character, measurement, and simulation of ocean currents, covering a wide range of flows and applications with geographical context.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 25 June 2021
Publisher: Elsevier Science Publishing Co Inc

Ocean Currents: Physical Drivers in a Changing World is an extensive exploration of the intricate dynamics that govern ocean currents, encompassing their character, measurement, and simulation. It serves as a comprehensive framework for comprehending the diverse range of flows encountered in our oceans. The book is organized into chapters that delve into distinct aspects of contrasting ocean currents, including broad and slow, deep and shallow, narrow and swift, large scale and small scale, low latitudes and high latitudes, and movements in horizontal and vertical planes. By adopting this multifaceted approach, the authors cover a broad spectrum of applications, spanning from local to global, while providing valuable geographical context to enhance our understanding.

The physical drivers of ocean currents are intricate and multifaceted, influenced by a range of factors such as wind patterns, temperature gradients, salinity variations, and the rotation of the Earth. These drivers operate on different time scales and spatial scales, resulting in a complex interplay of currents that shape the ocean's surface and underlying ecosystems.

One of the primary physical drivers of ocean currents is the wind. Winds drive surface currents by exerting a force on the water, which causes it to move in a direction perpendicular to the wind's direction. The Coriolis effect, caused by the Earth's rotation, further influences the direction and strength of surface currents. Wind patterns can vary significantly over time and across different regions of the ocean, leading to the formation of ocean gyres, such as the North Atlantic Gyre and the South Pacific Gyre.

Temperature gradients are another important physical driver of ocean currents. As warm water rises from the depths and cools at the surface, it creates a density gradient that drives currents. This process, known as thermohaline circulation, plays a crucial role in redistributing heat and nutrients throughout the ocean. Thermohaline circulation is particularly important in regulating the climate of the Earth, as it helps to transport warm water from the tropics to the poles, where it can melt ice and contribute to sea level rise.

Salinity variations are also a significant physical driver of ocean currents. Differences in salinity between ocean basins and regions can create density gradients that drive currents. For example, the Gulf Stream, which flows from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Atlantic, is driven by the difference in salinity between the warm, tropical waters of the Gulf and the colder, saltier waters of the North Atlantic.

The rotation of the Earth is another important physical driver of ocean currents. The Earth's rotation causes the ocean to bulge at the equator and flatten at the poles, creating a Coriolis force that influences the direction and strength of surface currents. The rotation also affects the formation of ocean gyres, such as the North Atlantic Gyre and the South Pacific Gyre.

In addition to these physical drivers, ocean currents are also influenced by geological processes such as plate tectonics and the formation of underwater ridges and basins. These processes can create barriers to the flow of currents, leading to the formation of oceanic regions such as the Gulf Stream and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

Understanding the physical drivers of ocean currents is crucial for predicting and managing the effects of climate change on the ocean. Climate change is causing changes in wind patterns, temperature gradients, and salinity variations, which in turn are affecting ocean currents. For example, warmer temperatures are causing the Gulf Stream to weaken, which could have significant impacts on the climate of Europe and North America.

In conclusion, ocean currents are a complex and dynamic system that is shaped by a range of physical drivers, including wind, temperature gradients, salinity variations, and the rotation of the Earth. These drivers operate on different time scales and spatial scales, resulting in a complex interplay of currents that shape the ocean's surface and underlying ecosystems. Understanding the physical drivers of ocean currents is crucial for predicting and managing the effects of climate change on the ocean, as well as for exploring and exploiting the vast resources that the ocean provides.

Weight: 1112g
Dimension: 192 x 231 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780128160596