EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the Sun. Patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earth’s rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents.

Detailed explanation-2: -Major surface ocean currents in the open ocean, however, are set in motion by the wind, which drags on the surface of the water as it blows. The water starts flowing in the same direction as the wind.

Detailed explanation-3: -Gravity causes the more dense water to fall, pushing away the less dense water, which shoots sideways and rises. Giant convection loops of ocean currents form as the lighter (hotter, less salty) regions of water rise and flow to replace the heavier (colder, more salty) regions of water.

Detailed explanation-4: -Large-scale surface ocean currents are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. These currents transfer heat from the tropics to the polar regions, influencing local and global climate.

Detailed explanation-5: -Major surface ocean currents are the result of global wind patterns, Earth’s rotation, and the shape of the ocean basins. Major surface currents circle the oceans in five gyres. Local surface currents, like longshore and rip currents, move near shorelines.