Geology 5 short essays

Geology Essays

1 . Describe the major ocean surface current patterns . Discuss what produces these patterns

An ocean surface current is a constantly directed and continuous movement or flow of ocean water . Major ocean surface current patterns are powered by the wind . However , these patterns are also largely influenced by other factors such as the Corolis effect , which is the deflection of the water to the direction of the wind , the differences in heating across the globe , and the structure of the landmasses . These three factors result in more permanent and large

scale water movements that become the major ocean surface current patterns around the world Generally , each of ocean hemispheres has its own gyre , which is the term for the circular movement of water . In the northern hemisphere , gyres move clockwise while in the southern hemisphere move counterclockwise Examples of major ocean surface patterns around the world include Equatorial Counter Current , Kuroshio Current , North and South Equatorial Current , the Gulf Stream , and the North Atlantic Drift , among many others

2 . Compare and contrast : swells , breaking surf , and tides . Include water depth , wavelength , speed , and causes of each

A swell in the ocean basically refers to the development of ocean surface waves that are of long wavelength on the sea . They have more stable directions compared to other oceanic waves because they are mainly caused by steady wind systems and tropical storms . On the other hand , certain waves go through a phenomenon termed as breaking These waves , also called break surfs ' have bases that can longer support their upper part or top , which causes it to collapse . These usually happen when the wave runs through shallow water or when two waves run against each other . Its speed and depth depends on the size of the entire wave and its wavelength depends on how the wave was formed Finally , a tsunami is a chain of waves that are created when a large body of water , like an ocean , is swiftly displaced . In a deep ocean , a tsunami usually has a wavelength of 120 miles or 200 kilometers . When a tsunami starts to form it is usually deep and travels fast , but as it approaches the coast or the land , it becomes shallow and it speed slows down to 50 mph or 80 kilometers per hour . The causes of a tsunami may include an earthquake , volcanic eruptions , massive underwater movements and large asteroids hitting the sea or ocean , among others

3 . Discuss how tides in a bay depend on its location in the ocean

Since tides are largely dependent on the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon , its movement , occurrence , and size are influenced by its location in the ocean . Usually , when the moon and the sun are aligned with each other facing the Earth , the tides are either significantly high or low . On the other hand , when the two are not aligned , the tides are not as significantly high or low . In terms of location , when a coastline or a...