What is Western intensification in ocean currents?
What is Western intensification in ocean currents?
western intensification The tendency of currents along the western margins of all oceans to be particularly strong, swift, and narrow, flowing northwards in the northern hemisphere and southwards in the southern hemisphere. Currents at the eastern margins of all oceans tend to be slower and more diffuse. See GYRE.
What causes westward intensification?
In other words, the currents off of the east coast of the continents are more intense than currents off of the west coast of the continents. This phenomenon is known as western intensification , and once again it is due to the Coriolis Effect. The greater the change in rotation speed, the stronger the Coriolis force.
How do western boundary currents affect climate?
It influences the climate of the east coast of Florida, keeping temperatures warmer in the winter and cooler than the other southeastern states in the summer. Since it also extends toward Europe, it warms western European countries as well.
Which is more intense the east or west side of the ocean?
In both hemispheres, the currents making up the western side of the are much more intense than the currents on the eastern side. In other words, the currents off of the east coast of the continents are more intense than currents off of the west coast of the continents. This phenomenon is known as. western intensification.
Why do currents move to the western side of the ocean?
Near the equator, the westward flowing currents experience a much weaker Coriolis force, so their deflection does not happen until the current is all the way over to the western side of the ocean basin. These western currents must therefore move through a much narrower area (Figure 9.4.1).
Which is faster western boundary currents or eastern boundary currents?
Surface currents located on the western side of the subtropical gyres, so-called western boundary currents, are faster than their eastern counterparts. In fact, they are among the fastest surface currents in the ocean.
What causes the slope of the ocean to be steeper on the western side?
Transport of surface waters toward the western boundary of the ocean basins causes the ocean-surface slope to be steeper on the western side (versus eastern side) of a gyre (in either hemisphere). A steeper ocean-surface slope translates into a faster geostrophic flow on that side of the gyre. Click to enlarge.