Ocean Currents and Global Circulation

Ocean current definition and characteristics

An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of seawater produced by forces such as wind, the Coriolis effect, tides, breaking waves, and differences in temperature and salinity. Its direction and strength are also influenced by ocean-basin shape, depth contours, coastlines, and interactions with other currents. Currents can move horizontally across entire oceans or vertically through upwelling and downwelling, which transport nutrients, gases, heat, and dissolved substances between the surface and deep ocean. Ocean currents are broadly divided into surface currents and deep-water currents. Surface currents are mainly driven by winds and are affected by the Coriolis effect, while deep-water currents are driven primarily by differences in seawater density caused by temperature and salinity; together they form the global ocean conveyor belt. Currents may also be classified as warm or cold and, according to speed, size, and directional definition, as drifts, currents, or streams. They strongly influence regional climates, weather, ecosystems, marine-life distribution, shipping, fisheries, and global climate regulation.

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Forces driving ocean currents

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