Oceanography Terms

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Coriolis

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The Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving objects when they are viewed in a rotating reference frame. In oceanography, it affects the direction of ocean currents.

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Surface Current

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Surface currents are ocean currents that occur at or near the surface of the ocean, driven primarily by wind.

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Upwelling

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Upwelling is the process by which deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, often supporting high levels of marine productivity.

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Downwelling

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Downwelling is the process where surface water is forced downward, often carrying oxygen-rich water to deeper ocean layers.

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Gyres

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Gyres are large systems of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and forces created by Earth's rotation.

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Gulf Stream

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The Gulf Stream is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and stretches to the Atlantic coast of the United States and Newfoundland.

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Thermocline

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A thermocline is a distinct layer in a large body of fluid in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below.

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Global Ocean Conveyor Belt

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The Global Ocean Conveyor Belt is a constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity.

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Current

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An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of seawater generated by forces such as wind, temperature differences, and salinity variations.

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Long Shore Current

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A long shore current is an ocean current that moves parallel to the shore, caused by waves hitting the coast at an angle.