Oceans and Climate

Oceans and Climate

Ocean Currents

The term 'ocean current' pertains to a directed, continuous flow of the water of ocean that is generated by the various mechanisms enabling this flow. These natural forces may include the wind, cabbeling, Coriolis Effect, salinity and differences in temperature and the tides that are produced by sun and moon's pull of gravity. The shoreline configurations and the communication with numerous other currents impact the strength and direction of currents (Roemmich, 2007). The ocean currents are able to flow over huge distances, and they produce a great flow forming a global conveyor belt. This belt perform vital role in determining the climate in numerous regions of Earth. One of the most significant examples is the Gulf Stream, which makes the region of the northwest Europe much more temperate as compared to other regions.

Major Currents

Gulf Stream

The Gulf Stream is the Atlantic Ocean current which is powerful and warm and is formed in combination with its northern extension towards Europe. It begins at the tip of Florida, and chases the eastern coastlines of the Newfoundland and United States until it crosses the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf Stream northward accelerating current, which is formed as a result of the western intensification process, and goes off the east coast of North America. It splits into two at 40°0'N 30°0'W, by dividing into the recirculation of the southern stream away from the West Africa and the northern stream going beyond the Northern Europe (Wilkinson, Jerry, n.d.). The presence of the stream has resulted into forming of all kinds of strong cyclones, both within the ocean and within the atmosphere. It has also been a prominent source of generating power.

Labrador Currents

In the North Atlantic Ocean, there is cold current known as the Labrador Current. It flows along the coast of Labrador from the Arctic Ocean southwards and crosses around Newfoundland, going in a constant flow in the southward direction down the Nova Scotia's eastern coast. The Labrador Current is the extension of the Baffin Island Current and the West Greenland Current. Southeast of Newfoundland, at the Grand Banks, the Labrador interacts with the warm Gulf Stream. When these two currents combine with each other, heavy fogs are produced and it creates the fishing ground. In early summer and spring, the icebergs are transported by this current from the Greenland glaciers into the trans-Atlantic shipping lanes southwards (Petrie and Isenor, 1985). ...