Tag: circulation of ocean water

Ripples are the instant effect of wind on water and they die down as quickly as they form, as the surface tension of the water dampens their efforts.

Waves always travel in the same direction as the wind is blowing: if the wind changes then the waves change with it. Wave size is determined by the strength of the wind, the length of time it has been blowing and the distance it has blown over or the ‘fetch’.

When strong winds blow for longer than a few hours, it gives the water sufficient energy that it then takes on a character of its own. This character and movement is known as swell, and it will march across open areas of water independent of the wind.

The north equatorial current turns northward to the obstruction of Philippines and thus gives birth to the Kuroshio current which flows from Taiwan to Ryuku ridge at 30 degrees N latitude. The Kuroshio current is a warm current. The average temperature and salinity are 8 degrees and 35% respectively.

Factors Influencing Nature and Movement of Ocean Currents:

1. Factors related to the earth’s rotation: Gravitational force and force of deflection.

2. Factors originating within the sea: Atmospheric pressure, winds, precipitation, evaporation and insolation.

3. Factors originating within the sea: Pressure gradient, temperature difference, salinity, density and melting of ice.

4. Factors modifying the ocean currents: Direction and shape of the coast, seasonal variations and bottom topography.

With 33.7% salinity, the Dead Sea is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. The Dead Sea is landlocked and in the lowest valley on earth. All the minerals of the surrounding countryside get washed into one pool, which in turn gets baked by the sun. This concentrates the salts so much that the Dead Sea is 10 times as salty as the ocean.