- Ocean currents are continuous flows of ocean water that follow a definitive course. Surface currents are currents that occur in the top 400 meters, or about 1,300 feet, of the ocean's surface.
- Surface currents flow in large circular patterns called gyres. Individual currents can be narrow or broad, fast or slow, deep or shallow.
- Surface currents are mainly driven by recurrent global wind patterns that move the water in specific directions.
- Because of the Earth's rotation, winds--and consequently surface currents--are deflected to the right or left instead of moving straight up and down, causing clockwise gyres in Northern Hemisphere oceans and counterclockwise gyres in Southern Hemisphere oceans. This phenomenon is known as the Coriolis effect.
- Surface currents bring warm water to cooler places, regulating ocean temperatures and regional climates. They also bring colder, nutrient-rich water into warmer places, which feeds ocean plants and animals.
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