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Schematic road map of the ocean's circulation.

Schematic road map of the ocean's circulation.
Schematic road map of the ocean's circulation.
Schematic road map of the ocean's circulation.
Schematic road map of the ocean's circulation.
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449793
Renier, Natalie
Schematic road map of the ocean's circulation.
Illustration
05/09/2008
OceanHighwaysMap12_ALT1.jpg
Caption from Oceanus magazine, Vol. 53, No. 2, pg. 35:
A schematic road map of the oceans circulation: Each ocean basin contains large spinning gyres driven by Earths rotation and winds. The gyres are mostly self-contained, so that waters circulate within them rather than flow between them. Small swirling eddies, found everywhere in the ocean, provide some stirring between the gyres. A global circulation known as the Global Ocean Conveyor Belt also provides a connection between the gyres, propelling warm surface waters and deep cold waters around the world.
Image Of the Day caption:
Sam Levang, a graduate student in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program, investigates the pathways of ocean water circulating throughout the globe. The oceans circulate heat and have a significant role in regulating Earth's climate. This schematic road map of the ocean's circulation shows that each ocean basin contains large spinning gyres, driven by Earth's rotation and winds. Waters circulate within the gyres, rather than flowing between them. Small swirling eddies, found everywhere in the ocean, provide some stirring between the gyres. A global circulation known as the Ocean Conveyor also connects the gyres, propelling warm surface waters and deep cold waters around the world.
Caption from Oceanus online:
A schematic "roadmap" of the ocean's circulation: Each ocean basin contains large spinning gyres, driven by Earth's rotation and winds. The gyres are mostly self-contained, so that waters circulate within them rather than flowing between them. Small Swirling eddies, which can be found everywhere in the ocean, provide some stirring between the gyres. A global circulation known as the "Ocean Conveyor Belt" also provides a connection between the gyres, propelling warm surface waters and deep cold waters around the world.
Illustration by Natalie Renier
© Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
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