Oceans

Front

What are ocean currents?

Back

Ocean currents are large-scale movements of seawater that flow through the oceans, driven by factors such as wind, water density differences, and the Earth's rotation.

Front

How do currents affect climate?

Back

Currents affect climate by transferring heat and cold between the tropics and polar regions.

Front

What is the Gulf Stream Current?

Back

The Gulf Stream Current is a warm ocean current that moves up the Atlantic coast of the United States, bringing warm water to colder regions.

Front

Why does salty water sink?

Back

Salty water sinks because it has higher density due to the presence of more salt, which adds to its mass.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving objects, such as ocean currents, to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere due to the Earth's rotation.

Front

What is upwelling?

Back

Upwelling is the process where cold, nutrient-rich water moves upward from the deep ocean to replace surface water that is blown away by winds.

Front

What causes ocean currents?

Back

Ocean currents are caused by wind patterns, the Earth's rotation, differences in water temperature and salinity, and the shape of the ocean basins.

Front

What is the role of the sun in ocean currents?

Back

The sun heats the Earth's surface, causing temperature differences that drive wind patterns, which in turn create ocean currents.

Front

What is thermohaline circulation?

Back

Thermohaline circulation is a global ocean circulation driven by differences in water density, controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline).

Front

What is the difference between surface currents and deep currents?

Back

Surface currents are driven primarily by wind and affect the upper layer of the ocean, while deep currents are driven by differences in water density and occur deeper in the ocean.