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(Pinet). Major ocean current systems. Geostrophy – a frictionless balance between the pressure gradient and the Coriolis acceleration – generates currents that move around the ‘hill’. Sea Surface Topography. Sea Surface Temperature. Snapshot of ocean temperature – shows lots of eddies….
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Geostrophy – a frictionless balance between the pressure gradient and the Coriolis acceleration – generates currents that move around the ‘hill’
Sea Surface Topography Sea Surface Temperature
Snapshot of ocean temperature – shows lots of eddies… Warm-core ring Cold-core ring
Gulf Stream STRONG NORTHWARD FLOW Open Gyre SLOW SOUTHWARD FLOW km 0 1 2 3 Med Outflow Part of Thermohaline Circulation 4 5 6 Wind-Driven Circulation Section along 36o North (Fuglister, 1960)
Mediterranean and Red Sea make Atlantic and Indian Oceans salty
Thermohaline sources North Atl Deep Water Mediterranean water Pacific Deep water Red Sea Ant. Inter. water Antarctic Bottom Water