Ocean currents
Ocean currents play a crucial role in shaping our planet's climate and marine ecosystems. What Are Ocean Currents? - Ocean currents are continuous, directed movements of seawater generated by various forces, including wind, the Coriolis effect, breaking waves, and temperature and salinity differences. - They primarily flow horizontally, creating a global conveyor belt that influences Earth's climate. Causes of Ocean Currents: - Earth's rotation, temperature variations, salinity, density, and air pressure contribute to ocean currents. - Primary forces include solar heating (causing water expansion), wind (pushing water), gravity (creating gradients), and the Coriolis force (deflecting currents). - Differences in water density due to salinity and temperature also drive currents. Classification of Ocean Currents: - Based on velocity: - Drifts: Slow surface movements influenced by prevailing winds. - Currents: Faster, directed flows. - Streams: Even faste…
