Coriolis Force (Effect)
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- Coriolis Effect
- The Importance of Ocean Currents
- What is a High Pressure System
- What is a Low Pressure System
- What is a cold front
- What is a warm front
- What is a stationary front
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Current: A current is a flow of air or water that is moving continuously in one direction.
The invisible force that appears to deflect the wind is the Coriolis force. The Coriolis force applies to movement on rotating objects. The Coriolis force is perpendicular to the object's axis. The Earth spins on its axis from west to east. The Coriolis force, therefore, acts in a north-south direction. The Coriolis force is zero at the Equator. Ocean Currents: The oceans have a number of currents that move in generally the same direction over time. These currents follow the prevailing winds, which also move in predictable directions. Because of a scientific principle called the Coriolis Effect, winds that are north of the equator usually move in a counterclockwise direction, and winds that are south of the equator usually move in a counterclockwise direction. These winds create currents such as the Gulf Steam and the North Atlantic Current, which are both in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator. These two currents move warm water from the tropics northward and eastward toward western Europe. In a similar way, the Brazil Current moves warm water southward and westward along the east coast of South America, bringing warm water further south. The Peru Current, on the west side of that continent, brings cold water north from the southern Pacific Ocean to regions closer to the equator. The movement of the ocean currents has a significant effect on climate. When currents such as the Gulf Stream move warm water to a new location, the climate of that new location becomes warm. This is the reason that western Europe has a milder climate than some other locations that are at the same latitude in other parts of the world. 
The Importance of Ocean Currents Because ocean currents circulate water worldwide, they have a significant impact on the movement of energy and moisture between the oceans and the atmosphere. As a result, they are important to the world’s weather. The Gulf Stream for example is a warm current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and moves north toward Europe. Since it is full of warm water, the sea surface temperatures are warm, which keeps places like Europe warmer than other areas at similar latitudes. The Humboldt Current is another example of a current that affects weather. When this cold current is normally present off the coast of Chile and Peru, it creates extremely productive waters and keeps the coast cool and northern Chile arid. However, when it becomes disrupted, Chile’s climate is altered and it is believed that El Niño plays a role in its disturbance. Like the movement of energy and moisture, debris can also get trapped and moved around the world via currents. This can be man-made which is significant to the formation of trash islands or natural such as icebergs. The Labrador Current, which flows south out of the Arctic Ocean along the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, is famous for moving icebergs into shipping lanes in the North Atlantic. Currents plan an important role in navigation as well. In addition to being able to avoid trash and icebergs, knowledge of currents is essential to the reduction of shipping costs and fuel consumption. Today, shipping companies and even sailing races often use currents to reduce time spent at sea. Finally, ocean currents are important to the distribution of the world’s sea life. Many species rely on currents to move them from one location to another whether it is for breeding or just simple movement over large areas. Wind Currents What is a High Pressure System? A high pressure system is a whirling mass of cool, dry air that generally brings fair weather and light winds. When viewed from above, winds spiral out of a high-pressure center in a clockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. These bring sunny skies. A high pressure system is represented as a big, blue H. H What is a Low Pressure System? A low pressure system is a whirling mass of warm, moist air that generally brings stormy weather with strong winds. When viewed from above, winds spiral into a low-pressure center in a counterclockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. A low pressure system is represented as a big, red L. L What is a cold front? A cold front is a boundary between two air masses, one cold and the other warm, moving so that the colder air replaces the warmer air. A cold front is represented as a blue line with the teeth pointing toward the direction on movement. 
What is a warm front? A warm front is a boundary between two air masses, one cool and the other warm, moving so that the warmer air replaces the cooler air. A warm front is represented as a red line with half circles pointing toward the direction on movement. 
What is a stationary front? A stationary front is a boundary between two air masses that more or less doesn’t move, but some stationary fronts can wobble back and forth for several hundred miles a day. A stationary front is represented as an alternating warm and cold front symbol.  Directory: cms -> lib8 -> ID01904074 -> Centricity -> Domain lib8 -> Emmett middle school registers for usa football’s heads up football® program for 2016 season lib8 -> Ap english Language Summer Reading Assignment 2016 Due Tuesday, September 6th lib8 -> Scholarship book lib8 -> Excerpts from the book lib8 -> Parent Handbook Table of Contents Introduction What is Giftedness? lib8 -> Summer Programs for High School Students lib8 -> Summer Opportunities 02/19/2016 updated college planning tips for students in grades 9 through 11 lib8 -> The Voyage Across the Atlantic Ocean lib8 -> 15 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games From Mental Floss Domain -> Guide to the Galaxy (Book 1 in the series) Download 241.6 Kb. Share with your friends:
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