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Z. ALL. This field describes the major ocean currents found in the ocean basins. Oceanic currents describe the movement of water from one location to another. Currents are generally measured in meters per second or in knots (1 knot = 1.85 kilometers per hour or 1.15 miles per hour).
Ocean surface currents are produced by global winds, the Coriolis effect and the shape of each ocean basin. The Pacific and Atlantic Oceans have a circular pattern of surface currents called gyres that circle clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern.
Five permanent subtropical gyres can be found in the major ocean basins—two each in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and one in the Indian Ocean—turning clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern.
- Types of Ocean Currents
- Causes of Ocean Currents
- Distribution of Ocean Currents
- Effects of Ocean Currents
- Ocean Currents and Climate Change
Ocean dynamics deals with the movement of water within the oceans. Oceanographers measure ocean currents in sverdrup, where one sverdrup equals the volume flow rate of 35,000,000 cubic feet per second. There are two fundamental types of ocean currents: surface currents and deep-water currents, which help to determine the character and flow of ocean...
The significant factors that determine the circulation pattern of ocean currents include the prevailing winds, variation in seawater temperature, rotation of the Earth and Coriolis force; figuration of the coastlines, and differences in the density of seawater. The topography of ocean basins and neighboring landmasses also influences ocean currents...
The ocean currents in the five big oceans of the world play an essential role in distributing the massive amount of heat, moisture, nutrients, and gases around the planet, in turn determining the climate of different regions on Earth. The warm ocean currents originate close to the Equator and move toward the higher latitudes, whereas the cold ocean...
The various effects of ocean currents have been discussed below. These are: Climatic conditions:Ocean currents influence the climatic conditions of the regions in which they flow. For example, the warm Equatorial currents raise the temperature of the region where they flow, while the cold currents decrease the temperature of the areas where they fl...
Several studies have reported that anthropogenic climate changehas led to increased surface seawater temperatures, evaporation of seawater, and rapid melting of glacial and sea ice. This influx of warm freshwater to the ocean surface has resulted in blocking sea ice formation and disrupting the sinking of denser, colder waters. Moreover, a rise in ...
- Diptarka Ghosh
South Pacific Gyre – Major circulating system of ocean currents; Weddell Gyre – One of two gyres within the Southern Ocean; Effects on climate and ecology. Ocean currents are important in the study of marine debris, and vice versa. These currents also affect temperatures throughout the world.
Lesson Objectives. Describe how surface currents form and how they affect the world’s climate. Describe the causes of deep currents. Relate upwelling areas to their impact on the food chain. Surface Currents. Wind that blows over the ocean water creates waves.
Wind is the primary force driving surface currents in the ocean. The sun heats the surface of the earth unevenly because of the shape and tilt of the earth. Warm air masses form where the sun’s radiation is most intense, which is at the equator. Cold air masses form at the poles, where the sun’s radiation is less intense.
