Ocean currents: Learn how ocean currents are driven

Learn how ocean currents are driven by winds, water density, tides, and Earth's rotation, and how they affect climate, ecosystems, and fisheries. Explore interactive maps, lesson plans, videos, and more from NOAA. What is Ocean Current ? It is a horizontal movement of seawater that is produced by gravity, wind, and water density. Ocean currents play an important role in the determination of climates of coastal regions. As an important topic of Geography (Oceanography), questions could be framed either in Prelims or Mains (GS 1) papers of the IAS Exam. Candidates can check previous years’ Geography Questions in UPSC Prelims in the linked article. Understand the basics of ocean currents in this article. Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind (Coriolis Effect), and water density. Ocean water moves in two directions: horizontally and vertically. Horizontal movements are referred to as currents , while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings. This abiotic system is responsible for the transfer of heat, variations in biodiversity, and Earth’s climate system. Explore how ocean currents are interconnected with other ... Ocean water is constantly moving, and not only in the form of waves and tides. Ocean currents flow like vast rivers, sweeping along predictable paths. Some ocean currents flow at the surface; others flow deep within water. Some currents flow for short distances; others cross entire ocean basins and even circle the globe. By moving heat from the equator toward the poles, ocean currents play an important role in controlling the climate. Ocean currents are also critically important to sea life ...