Ocean Currents

Front

What are ocean currents?

Back

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

Front

What causes warm ocean currents?

Back

Warm ocean currents are generally caused by the sun's heating of the ocean water near the equator, which then moves towards the poles.

Front

What is density in relation to ocean water?

Back

Density is the mass of water per unit volume, which is affected by temperature and salinity.

Front

What happens to materials that are less dense than water?

Back

Materials that are less dense than water will float.

Front

What is the Thermohaline circulation?

Back

Thermohaline circulation is a global system of surface and deep ocean currents driven by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline) differences.

Front

What does salinity refer to?

Back

Salinity refers to the concentration of salts in water, which affects the density of ocean water.

Front

How do temperature and salinity affect ocean currents?

Back

Temperature and salinity create differences in water density, which drive the movement of ocean currents.

Front

What is the Global Conveyor Belt?

Back

The Global Conveyor Belt is a large-scale ocean current system that circulates water around the globe, influenced by temperature and salinity variations.

Front

What is the role of cold salty water in ocean currents?

Back

Cold salty water is denser and sinks, contributing to the movement of ocean currents in the Thermohaline circulation.

Front

What is the relationship between ocean currents and climate?

Back

Ocean currents play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate by distributing heat and influencing weather patterns.