IGNOU MSCCFT and PGDCFT Exam Question Pattern: MCFT003 Counselling and Family...
Sea currents in Poland and Tenerife
1.
2. What is sea current?
Sea current - large and almost constant water movements
in the oceans caused mainly by the occurrence of
constant winds and temperature differences.
3. The climate of the Canary Islands is
shaped primarily by two phenomena: sea
currents and incoming hot masses of air
from the Sahara Desert.
4. The Canary Current is a wind-driven surface current that
is part of the North Atlantic Gyre. This eastern boundary
current branches south from the North Atlantic Current
and flows southwest about as far as Senegal where it
turns west and later joins the Atlantic North Equatorial
Current. The current is named after the Canary Islands.
The archipelago partially blocks the flow of the Canary
Current.
5. The Canary Current has a decisive influence on the
climate of Tenerife and other islands of the
archipelago. Some sources mistakenly state that the
Canary Islands are also reached by the warm Gulf
Stream before its waters cool down in the collision
with cold Arctic currents.
6. The ocean currents by the Santa Cruz San
Andres breakwater can be usually
observed from high up on the mountains
of the Anaga Massif. The exact spot is in
the north east of the biggest of Canary
Islands, about 10km from San Andrés.
9. The A winds comb the ocean surface and bring up colder
water. This 'upwelling' part of the deep sea is then taken
along to shore. Consequently, those so called north east
trade winds contribute much to a more temperate
climate for the Canary Islands because of that
phenomena.
Perhaps, the most south-east location of beach Playa del
Inglés of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is not less effected
by the cooler currents, but may be hotter due to its
nearness to Africa and to the Equator. Near it, the Canary
currents turns west again due to reversed Earth
magnetism.
10. The B winds work in altitudes of up to 1500m.
Both types of Elysian winds contribute to the moderate
climate of Tenerife and to that of the rest of the
archipelago. Those notorious Canary winds don't
generally reach gale force but may show more power in
midsummer. Then, more than 150 meters may be
upwelling from the depth of the Atlantic.
11. Winds and currents don't behave the same all the time
during the course of the year. This is why there are also best
seasons for sailing and best times of the year for
championships by certain surf beaches.
Winds and ocean currents may even change somewhat due
to global warming, while not enough is known about it. One
fact has come to the attention of the area of Las Teresitas.
This is all about fierce August waves by San Andres of
Tenerife which seem to get bigger by each year.
12. ColdWater Shock in Tenerife
Even at the heat of summer, the water temperature of
the ocean around the Canary Islands doesn’t get above
24°, one degree below the “safe limit”.
13. Undertow in Tenerife
One particular example of strong undertow is Callao
Salvaje, which has a steep shelf and a constant heavy
drag as the waves break and return back out to sea, with
the result that one can easily hear the suction as bathers
try to get back onto the beach even when the water is
only up to their knees. This is true even in calm seas, and
becomes worse when there is any swell. Callao Salvaje is
far from unique, and undertow is a serious risk, tripping
up bathers and carrying them out to sea where they can
be overwhelmed by the next wave coming into shore.
16. Rip currents in Tenerife
Rip currents are unpredictable, strong and narrow streams of
water flowing against the direction of the waves which rapidly
carry swimmers a considerable distance out to sea. The main
danger of rip currents is that of drowning through exhaustion
by swimming against the flow, because most regular swimmers
will never overcome a rip current by swimming headlong at it.
The currents are, however, usually no more than 10 metres
wide, and so swimming at right angles to them, and along the
coast rather than towards the coast, means that within
minutes you will be out of the drag, albeit further out to sea.
You will then be able to swim back towards the beach with the
help of the normal waves.
17.
18. Costeros
“Costeros” (rough seas around the coasts) are a phenomenon
frequently associated with stormy weather, but they can occur
during good weather too depending on conditions way out at
sea in the Atlantic.
When there are costeros in the Canaries, rock pools in
particular become treacherous because the high swell washes
in and takes any occupants with it when it sweeps back out to
sea. Even on the gentlest beaches, though, costeros are
treacherous, and the main advice when they are forecast is to
stay well away from the water, and indeed well back from the
coast itself.
19.
20. In terms of bathing safety and practicing water
sports, the Baltic Sea is significantly different from
other water reservoirs in Poland. Hydrological
conditions occurring in its coastal zone often pose
many threats to the swimmers.
21. Currents are the main risk for
sunbathers. They are especially
dangerous for shallow-water
users. Polish beaches, despite
beautiful soft sand and relatively
low waves are also dangerous
places. Significant depth
differences due to reeds,
numerous natural obstacles,
stones and wave breakers often
pose an invisible threat even in
seemingly calm water.
22. Strong coastal currents, vortices, high waves and the
often changing sea bed are a challenge not only for the
average sunbather, but also for a professional
swimmer. There is often a dangerous current in the
Baltic Sea called stream or thrust.
Plane currents arise wherever waves break, i.e. they
expand after passing the breaking wave start zone.
One of the mechanisms of the creation of bursting
currents is the collapse of the wave in the shallow and
the formation of current directed towards the sea
flowing on the surface of the water. The sea currents
can move a man from shore up to several kilometres
deep into the sea.
