If you mean currents, there are several reasons that affect their flow. The most promenant one is the change in ocean water temperature. Cold water in the North moves to the Equator to warm up, and that warm water then rises to the North as a chain reaction. Several current systems that move in circular patterns like this are called Gyres. I believe there are 4 major Gyres today in the North Pacific, South Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Another variable in currents is (sometimes considered) tidal motion of the moon. There are also vertical currents of water called Density Currents. These occur when there are differences in the density of seawater. Obviously, more dense seawater sinks, and the less dense rises. This can be caused by the salinity being increased for whatever reason. Density currents are usually not permanent.
2007-12-24 01:08:42
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answer #1
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answered by Synthuir 3
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the rotation of the earth causes curents to divert east or west when heading north or south.
More specifically, currents flowing from the equator to one of the poles is diverted in the direction of the earth's rotation.
The simplest way to explain this is as follows:
The surface of the earth rotates at different speeds depending upon latitudinal location. At the equator the earth moves in the directon of rotation at a rate of 1000 km per hour, say. If you go a bit further toward the poles, say 100 miles to the north, the surface of the earth is moving slightly slower. This continues as one approaches the poles so that at the poles, their is no movement relative to the axis, just revolving (rate of 0). When currents flow toward the pole, they retain their speed a bit, so they slide toward the direction of the spin (the material is moving faster than the surface of the earth closer to the poles). This results in a clockwise spinning in the northern hemisphere, and a counterclockwise or anticlockwise spin in the southern hemisphere.
This also happens with descending and rising currents. Low pressure areas, where air rises, are moving slightly slower where they start than they need to be further up in the atmosphere to maintain the same location (the higher material moves faster), so low pressure areas spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. High pressure involves descending from a higher rate to a lower rate level, so there is an imparted rotation in the clockwise direction.
This is why the whirlpool going down the drain rotates in the clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere (barring any imparted rotation from drain shape or input flow; you can cause a whirlpool to turn the wrong direction for a short period by stirring the water in the wrong direction).
2007-12-24 03:15:55
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answer #2
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answered by busterwasmycat 7
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The interaction between rising and falling tides can sometimes produce giant rotating currents or whirlpools with strong downdrafts in the oceans.
2007-12-25 01:00:44
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answer #3
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answered by Arasan 7
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its called convection,,,,,,,,warm water rises at the equator and sinks at poles as its cooled causing the circular motion
2007-12-24 02:16:16
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answer #4
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answered by Arthurlikesbeer 6
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