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The three main drivers that work together to cause upwelling are wind, Coriolis effect, and Ekman transport. They operate differently for different types of upwelling, but the general effects are the same. [6] In the overall process of upwelling, winds blow across the sea surface at a particular direction, which causes a wind-water interaction.
A Wind generated current is a flow in a body of water that is generated by wind friction on its surface. Wind can generate surface currents on water bodies of any size. The depth and strength of the current depend on the wind strength and duration, and on friction and viscosity losses, [1] but are limited to about 400 m depth by the mechanism, and to lesser depths where the water is shallower. [2]
On smaller scales, cyclonic winds induce Ekman transport which causes net divergence and upwelling, or Ekman suction, [15] while anti-cyclonic winds cause net convergence and downwelling, or Ekman pumping [20] Ekman transport is also a factor in the circulation of the ocean gyres and garbage patches.
These wind patterns result in a wind stress curl that drives Ekman pumping in the subtropics (resulting in downwelling) and Ekman suction in subpolar regions (resulting in upwelling). [3] Ekman pumping results in an increased sea surface height at the center of the gyre and anticyclonic geostrophic currents in subtropical gyres. [3]
Another important factor to take into account, especially when considering ocean-wind interaction, is the role played by eddy-induced Ekman pumping. [7] Some other limitations of the explanation above are due to the idealised, quasi circular linear dynamical response to perturbations that neglects the vertical displacement that a particle can ...
Additionally, extensive upwelling of colder sub-surface waters occurs, caused by the prevailing northwesterly winds acting through the Ekman Effect. The winds drive surface water to the right of the wind flow, that is offshore, which draws water up from below to replace it. The upwelling further cools the already cool California Current.
The oceanic wind driven Ekman spiral is the result of a force balance created by a shear stress force, Coriolis force and the water drag. This force balance gives a resulting current of the water different from the winds. In the ocean, there are two places where the Ekman spiral can be observed.
They are primarily driven by winds and by seawater density, although many other factors influence them – including the shape and configuration of the ocean basin they flow through. The two basic types of currents – surface and deep-water currents – help define the character and flow of ocean waters across the planet.the ocean current is ...