home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
/
Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
/
E
/
Ekman_spiral_effect
/
INFOTEXT
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-09-02
|
635b
|
17 lines
An application of the Coriolis effect to
ocean currents, whereby the currents flow at
an angle to the winds that drive them. It
derives its name from the Swedish
oceanographer Vagn Ekman (1874-1954). In the
northern hemisphere, surface currents are
deflected to the right of the wind direction.
The surface current then drives the
subsurface layer at an angle to its original
deflection. Consequent subsurface layers are
similarly affected, so that the effect
decreases with increasing depth. The result
is that most water is transported at about
right angles to the wind direction.
Directions are reversed in the southern
hemisphere.