Ocean Currents Introduction
Ocean currents are massive underwater rivers, flowing for thousands of miles, shaping climates and ecosystems with their hidden power.
Thermohaline Circulation
Powered by temperature and salt gradients, the thermohaline circulation drives a global conveyor belt, distributing heat and nutrients around the planet.
Gyres Influence Weather
Major ocean gyres, like the North Atlantic Gyre, influence weather patterns by directing storms and distributing tropical warmth toward the poles.
Upwelling's Ecological Significance
Regions of upwelling bring cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface, supporting some of the ocean's richest ecosystems and crucial fisheries.
Currents and Carbon Storage
Oceans currents play a vital role in carbon sequestration, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and transporting it deep into the ocean.
El Niño's Global Impact
El Niño events occur when Pacific trade winds weaken, causing drastic shifts in weather patterns worldwide, from droughts to floods.
Melting Ice and Currents
As polar ice melts, fresh water influx may disrupt ocean currents, potentially triggering climate changes on a scale humanity has never seen.Deep Ocean Waterfalls
Underwater waterfalls exist, with the largest dropping 11,500 feet, dwarfing any land waterfall in height.
What drives thermohaline circulation?
Global wind patterns
Temperature and salt gradients
Earth's magnetic field
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