Ocean currents are streams of seawater that flow continuously through the oceans. Think of them as rivers within the sea. These currents move in fixed directions and play a crucial role in Earth's climate system.
There are two main types of ocean currents: Surface currents flow in the top 400 meters of water and are driven by winds.
Deep water currents flow below the surface and are caused by differences in water density due to temperature and salinity.
Surface currents follow predictable patterns. In the Northern Hemisphere, they move clockwise due to the Coriolis effect. In the Southern Hemisphere, they move counterclockwise.
This creates circular patterns called gyres in each ocean basin.
Warm currents flow from equatorial regions toward the poles, carrying heat poleward. Examples include the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic and the Kuroshio Current in the Pacific. Cold currents flow from polar regions toward the equator, bringing cool water to lower latitudes.
Examples include the California Current and the Canary Current.