What process describes the influence of surface winds on deeper water movement?

What process describes the influence of surface winds on deeper water movement?

• A. Ekman transport
• B. Thermal stratification
• C. Gyre circulation
• D. Thermohaline circulation

Answer: (A)

The process that describes the influence of surface winds on deeper water movement is Ekman transport. This phenomenon occurs when wind blows across the surface of the ocean, causing surface water to move due to friction. As a result, the movement of the top layer of water sets up a cascading effect on deeper layers due to the Coriolis effect, which causes the flow direction to be altered. In the Northern Hemisphere, the surface water is deflected to the right of the wind direction, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it is deflected to the left. This movement leads to a spiral effect known as the Ekman spiral, where each successive layer of water moves with reduced speed and at different angles to the wind. The net transport of water due to this effect is typically 90 degrees to the right (in the Northern Hemisphere) or left (in the Southern Hemisphere) of the wind direction. This mechanism is crucial in understanding ocean dynamics, including how nutrients are distributed and how ocean currents are generated. Thermal stratification, gyre circulation, and thermohaline circulation each have distinct characteristics and functions related to ocean behavior but do not specifically describe the process of surface winds affecting deeper water movement in the way that Ekman transport does.

The process that describes the influence of surface winds on deeper water movement is Ekman transport. This phenomenon occurs when wind blows across the surface of the ocean, causing surface water to move due to friction. As a result, the movement of the top layer of water sets up a cascading effect on deeper layers due to the Coriolis effect, which causes the flow direction to be altered.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the surface water is deflected to the right of the wind direction, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it is deflected to the left. This movement leads to a spiral effect known as the Ekman spiral, where each successive layer of water moves with reduced speed and at different angles to the wind. The net transport of water due to this effect is typically 90 degrees to the right (in the Northern Hemisphere) or left (in the Southern Hemisphere) of the wind direction. This mechanism is crucial in understanding ocean dynamics, including how nutrients are distributed and how ocean currents are generated.

Thermal stratification, gyre circulation, and thermohaline circulation each have distinct characteristics and functions related to ocean behavior but do not specifically describe the process of surface winds affecting deeper water movement in the way that Ekman transport does.