oceancurrent

Oceancurrent is the term used to describe the large-scale movement of seawater within the world’s oceans. These currents are driven by wind patterns, Earth's rotation (the Coriolis effect), differences in water density caused by temperature and salinity, and seafloor topography. Ocean currents occur in two broad domains: surface currents, which flow in the upper layers of the ocean and are primarily driven by winds; and deep or thermohaline currents, which move more slowly and are driven by density differences, linking basins through the global overturning circulation.

Surface currents organize into boundary currents and large gyres that span ocean basins, while deep currents form the interconnected deep-ocean component of the thermohaline circulation. Notable surface currents include the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the Kuroshio in the western North Pacific, and the California and Canary currents along western coasts. Deep currents transport dense, cold water from polar regions toward the equator and contribute to nutrient upwelling in some regions, supporting marine ecosystems.

Currents influence climate by redistributing heat, affect marine life by transporting nutrients and organisms, and assist navigation and fisheries. They are measured through satellite altimetry, drifting buoys, ARGO floats, and ship-based instruments. In the context of climate change, changes in wind, precipitation, and ocean density are expected to alter current strength and pathways, with broad climatic implications. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current encircles Antarctica and connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, while the thermohaline circulation links surface and deep waters across basins.