What are marine CURRENTS

The oceans are a fundamental part of the planet. About 75% of the entire Earth's surface corresponds to oceans. The water contained in them is not static, but in constant movement depending on the tides and sea currents that are formed. These marine currents that form in the ocean create differences in temperature and different meteorological phenomena on the planet. In this lesson from a TEACHER we will talk about what are ocean currents. If you are interested in learning more about this phenomenon, we will tell you about it below!

Index

1. What are sea currents
2. Types of ocean currents
3. Importance of ocean currents
4. Consequences of sea currents

Ocean currents are movements of water masses inside the ocean. They originate from the sun's radiation and the fact that not all points on the ocean surface heat up equally. shape, which gives rise to different densities of water within the ocean, which together with the action of the wind, end up creating these currents.

The wind makes there are different movements on the surface of the ocean than in the depths. Factors such as the geography of the continents, the shapes of the coasts, the difference in temperature or salinity also influence the formation of ocean currents. There are both warm and cold and deep or shallow currents.

Image: Youtube

Now that you know what ocean currents are, we are going to distinguish the following types of ocean currents:

• ocean currents: This class of currents have a continuous movement produced thanks to the terrestrial rotation, being in the east-west direction in the intertropical zones and in medium and high latitudes, in the reverse.
• Density currents: This type of current is born in the area where contact between water masses of different density occurs. This usually occurs between waters with different salinity or different temperature. Due to this, they are currents that usually form in straits where they contact seas and oceans different, around the arctic circle or along the equatorial axis.
• Wave currents: This type of current is formed due to the action of the wind, especially in areas of hurricanes or storms. Wave currents usually form on water surfaces and have a limited impact.
• tidal currents: This type of currents follow daily and periodic cycles of formation and are generated due to the attraction of the moon and the sun on the surface of the waters, that is, those waters that are more warm. Tidal currents produce the daily movement of water from the northern to the southern hemisphere and vice versa.
• Lateral drift currents: These types of currents are formed due to the collision of the mass of water with the layout of the coasts. This forces them to change their orientation or trajectory.

Image: Network Meteorology

Ocean currents are important because cause the movement of masses of water and, therefore, of nutrients in the oceans, generating greater biodiversity where they are found. Due to the constant movements, the water of the oceans has managed to maintain its characteristics for millions of years.

In addition to this transport of nutrients, the moving water transports heat energy also influencing the distribution of temperatures, salinity and organisms in all areas of the planet.

Another importance of ocean currents is its influence on the climate of the area in which they are located. The currents influence the generation of rain and other meteorological phenomena such as the El Niño phenomenon. Thanks to the marine currents, it also increases the productivity of the waters.

Therefore, for most of the organisms that live in the oceans, ocean currents are fundamental for:

• movement of nutrients
• temperature stability
• large displacements

Ocean currents are essential for the storage and transfer of thermal energy on land, which allows heat to be distributed between the seas, the land and the atmosphere.

This achieves the creation of relatively constant climatic conditions between the different regions of the planet, such as the dry climates in the western coasts of the subtropical and intertropical regions and warmer and more humid climates on the coasts of the middle and high latitudes of the planet. Marine currents also allow the formation of tides, they also allow the migration of fish from some zones to others when they need it or the transfer of species between zones of the planet with different temperatures.

In addition to this, they also help the greater biodiversity in certain areas of the planet thanks to the movement of nutrients and the creation of food chains and the maintenance of different salinities in ocean waters. This allows to create a thermohaline circulation in the world.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are ocean currents - for children, we recommend that you enter our category of geology.