Facts About Wind and Currents
Who hasn't seen the futuristic movie "WaterWorld"? After global warming has affected the earth's atmosphere, and icebergs have all melted, this fictional movie demonstrates future homes and cities built to exist on oceans by harnessing the ocean's energy. This energy is created by the wind's effect on water currents, and wind technology is being put to use today across the nation as a green alternative to energy currently powered by fossil fuel.
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Facts
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The ocean has two patterns of currents: wind-driven currents that exist in the upper part of the ocean, and circulation in the deep ocean, states NASA. These currents affect our weather and climate. Wind-driven currents are created by the wind's movement along the ocean's surface and the Earth's rotation. President Barack Obama stated on Earth Day, 2009 that 20 percent of all U.S. energy will be wind-powered offshore by 2030.
Causes of Currents
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Surface currents occur when the wind moves persistently over the ocean's surface for a prolonged period of time, and this movement is transferred to varying depths of water. The strength of the wind helps determine the speed of the current. The Coriolis force, the force of the Earth's rotation that alters the path of currents, is greater at higher latitudes and in deeper water.
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Common Types
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Western boundary currents that flow toward the poles along the ocean's western basins are among the fastest surface currents that exist and transport large amounts of heat from the tropics to mid-latitudes, states NASA. The Gulf Stream is an example of a western boundary current. Eastern boundary currents transport colder water into the tropics, where they are heated and transported to the poles by the western currents. Eastern currents are slower, shallower, and wider than their western counterparts, explains NASA. The California current is an eastern boundary current.
Significance
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The ocean's surface currents have been used for centuries by explorers and to transport goods around the world. We use the knowledge of currents to study and track severe weather patterns such as hurricanes, El Nino and long-term patterns in the climate. By utilizing wind-driven currents, sailboats are sailed and the transport industry saves on fuel costs. We also track pollution like oil spills and perform rescue missions by using currents.
Green Technology
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As fossil fuels are being depleted and costing homeowners more per year, the United States is seeking cost-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative methods of energy. Wind-driven currents provide options for filling this need. Gulf Stream turbines that harness ocean current power, mounted turbines that encompass ocean wind power and ocean wave power utilizing mounted buoys have been developed and implemented by the Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corporation, a leader in providing alternative offshore energy resources along the coastal United States.
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