Final answer:
Gyres are large-scale patterns of ocean circulation influenced by the Earth's rotation and are distinct above and below the equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate counterclockwise. This mechanism greatly influences climate, marine ecosystems, and the behavior of tropical cyclones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gyre Patterns Above and Below the Equator
The major gyre patterns both above and below the equator are influenced by the Earth's rotation and its atmospheric circulation. Above the equator, in the Northern Hemisphere, the gyres rotate in a clockwise direction. This effect is due to the Coriolis force, which deflects moving air and water to the right in this hemisphere. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, below the equator, the gyres move in a counterclockwise direction, with the Coriolis force deflecting movement to the left. These large-scale patterns in ocean circulation have a significant impact on climate, weather, and marine ecosystems.
Gyres play a crucial role in the behavior of the ocean currents and can lead to the accumulation of ocean debris in certain areas, like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch within the North Pacific Gyre. They also have an effect on the movement and intensity of tropical storms. For example, tropical cyclones, known as hurricanes or typhoons depending on their location, almost always develop between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, areas influenced by the gyre patterns.
These oceanic gyres are different from the fast and often linear east-west wind patterns observed on gas giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn, where the lack of a solid surface allows for persistent high-speed atmospheric jets without the frictional dissipation seen on Earth.