KL 2205

PENGETAHUAN FISIK LAUT

Alamsyah Kurniawan, Ph.D

Rizaldi Caesar Yuniardi

15515046

PROGRAM STUDI TEKNIK KELAUTAN

FAKULTAS TEKNIK SIPIL DAN LINGKUNGAN
INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI BANDUNG
BANDUNG
2017
OCEAN CIRCULATION

Ocean Circulation is divide by 2 terms; (1) Wind Induced Current, that is at the sea surface
and (2) Thermohaline, that is in the deep. At the sea surface current the upper 400 meters of the
ocean (10%), at the deep water currents thermal and saline currents (90%).

A. Wind Driven Circulation (Surface)

Wind drive the circulation make surface friction. The circulation in the upper
kilometer or so of the ocean is directly related to the curl of the wind stress. The circulation
in oceanic gyres is asymmetric because the coriolis force varies with latitude. Viscosity
added to the calculation of upper layer circulation. That are the modern theory of ocean
circulation.
Wind-driven currents are produced by the interaction between the wind and the
water. As wind moves across the water, collision of air molecules with water transfer
energy from the air to the water. Water moves about3-4% of the wind speed. Coriolis make
wind moving nearly parallel to latitude.

Ekman Spiral and Transport

Wind acts directly and frictionally, through vertically on the top 50-100 meters of
the ocean. Int the northern hemisphere, the frictional surface flow is at an angle to the right
of the wind. This frictionally on the water which the is slightly more to the right then will
make the vector tracing a spiral. It’ll become weaker and weaker. This spiral is called the
Ekman Spiral.

Current Gyres
Gyres are large cicular-moving loops of water. Five main gyres (one in each ocean
basin); North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Indian. Generally
4 currents in each gyre. Centered about 30o north or south latitude.

Concepts of Current Gyre

This elevated sea surface creates a horizontal pressure gradient that tends to move
water outward. As water flows on this pressure gradient, it is deflected by the coriolis effect
 and flows geostrophically around the mound. At equilibrium, the sea surface elevation
doesn’t vary, the tendency of water to be moved to the center of the mound is balanced by
the pressure gradient, and the pressure gradient generates geostrophic currents. Thus, the
wind energy of the trade winds and westerlies is transferred into the geostrophic current
that flow continuously and form the subtropical gyres.

B. THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION (DEEP)

Below a kilometer lies the vast water masses of the ocean extending to depths of 4-
5 km. the water is everywhere cold, with a potential temperature less than 4oC. many terms
have been used to describe the deep circulation; abyssal circulation, thermohaline
circulation, meridional overturning circulation, global conveyor.

Ocean Conveyor Belt

Warm, tropical ocean currents that flow from the equator make up the beginning of
this conveyor. They travel north, warming the winds that travel in the same direction. Those
winds eventually warm North America and Europe, which accounts for the temperate
climate of those continents. Once the warm surface water flows all the way to Greenland,
it gets colder and therefore denser, causing it to sink. This clod water is also saltier than
the warm, less dense water flowing up from the tropics. The force of the sinking propels
the water southward. Upon reaching the equator, the currents warm up and the cycle begins
again. This sequence is known as thermohaline circulation.

WIND DRIVEN SURFACE CURRENTS: UPWELLING AND DOWNWELLING

A. Upwelling
Upwelling occurs when dense cool nutrient rich water from the bottom of the water
column offshore replaces the nutrient depleted surface water in the nearshore. It is
driven by wind, the Coriolis effect, and Ekman transport:

o Wind blows across the lake.

o Water is transported 90 degrees from the direction of wind (Coriolis forces/Ekman

transport).
 o Friction between the surface water and water underneath surface layer causes both
water parcels to move in the same direction.

o As water moves away from the shore, the lost water is replaced by upwelling of
deep waters.

Upwelled nutrient-rich water can provide nutrients (nitrate, total

phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, etc) for biological growth in the
nearshore.

Figure 1. Upwelling

B. Downwelling
Downwelling occurs when surface water becomes more dense and sinks to the
bottom of the lake. It is driven by wind, the Coriolis effect, and Ekman transport.

o Wind blows across the lake.

o Water is transported 90 degrees from the direction of wind (Coriolis forces/Ekman

transport).

o As water moves towards the shore, the water already present accumulates or “piles
up” and the pressure of this water causes it to sink down to deeper waters.
 Transports dissolved oxygen to deeper waters, affecting decomposition in
surface waters.

Figure 2. Downwelling

Consequences of Upwelling and Downwelling

Upwelling and downwelling influence sea-surface temperature and biological productivity.

Upwelling waters may originate below the pycnocline and are therefore colder than the surface
waters they replace. Coastal upwelling and downwelling also influence weather and climate.
Along some place, upwelling lowers sea surface temperatures and increases the frequency of
summer fogs. Relatively cold surface waters chill the overlying humid marine air to saturation so
that thick fog develops. Upwelling cold water inhibits formation of tropical cyclones, because
tropical cyclones derive their energy from warm surface waters