Science notebook activity in this exploration, you will identify the prevailing winds and ocean currents that exist on earth, as
well as the directions they travel. use the wind and ocean map to answer the questions in your science notebook. procedure using a red-colored pencil, trace the patterns of the prevailing winds on the map. be sure to include the following prevailing winds: prevailing westerlies trade winds northern subtropical gyre southern subtropical gyre doldrums draw arrows on each pattern to show which direction the wind blows. label the various prevailing winds with their appropriate names. sketch the major ocean currents onto the map using a blue-colored pencil. be sure to include the following ocean currents: japan current northern equatorial drift southern equatorial drift gulf stream west wind drift brazil current draw arrows on each pattern to show which direction the surface current flows. label each ocean current pattern with its correct name. in the box provided, create a legend, being sure to key the different colored lines. finally, label your map with an appropriate title. answer the following questions. questions compare the direction of the currents in the north pacific ocean with those of the south pacific ocean. how are they alike and similar? explain the reason for the similarities and differences. what relationship between wind and ocean currents do you notice after observing your map?
The Earth is known to have five prevailing wind zones. They are:
Polar easterlies is known to flow from polar high-pressure belt in the direction of the temperate low-pressure belts and it is said to blow from the east.
Westerlies moves from from the west toward the east.
Horse latitudes, found in the north and south and moves or flow toward the prevailing westerlies or equator.
Trade winds flows mainly from east to west that is north and south of the equator.
The doldrums starts at low pressure or weak pressure gradients, and moves in the direction of the trade wind of North and south.
Some of the examples of ocean Currents in the world are:
North Equatorial Current is known to be a westward wind-driven current
Kuroshio Current is known as north-flowing and also a warm ocean current .
North Pacific Current is known to flow from west-to-east .
Alaskan Current has its current flowing counterclockwise.
Counter Equatorial Current is known as an eastward flowing and also a wind-driven current
South Equatorial Current is known to flow from east-to-west. etc.
<h3>What is the link between wind and ocean currents?</h3>
The winds is known to be a weather condition that carries surface water with them which therefore forms currents.
Note that as these currents are said to flow westward, the Coriolis effect which is a force that emanates from the rotation of the Earth is said to lower their intensity which can make the currents to bend to the right, facing the north.
The heat equation can be written as. ∂ u ∂ t = α ∇ 2 u. where u(x, y, t) is the temperature field that varies in space and time, and α is the thermal diffusivity constant.
The environment of a place is mobile and dynamic in character it can impact both the local and global climates of any place on earth. The <u>atmospheric circulation, oceanic currents, and biogeography</u> of a place have an impact on the local climate and weather pattern of the place.
Like places in poles are cool and have cold environments that affect the general circulation of the atmosphere of the planet by the current produced in oceans and air as a polar cell.
Similarly palace on the equator is in direct contact with the sunlight and thus their environment is of calm nature hence, the convective currents develop over here.
Thus the environment is what surrounds us can directly and indirectly impact the local which will lead to a change in global changes as well.
