Global Ocean Currents
by Tim Brown/science Photo Library
Title
Global Ocean Currents
Artist
Tim Brown/science Photo Library
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Global ocean currents. Illustration showing surface ocean currents. Surface currents are driven by the winds. Around the Antarctic is the eastward flowing Antarctic Circumpolar current. It is unobstructed by land for the entire circuit of the Earth and is the strongest current. The Gulf Stream is a warm current that arises in the Caribbean Sea (top left of left-hand globe) and travels up the Eastern coast of the USA before crossing the Atlantic. It keeps western Europe significantly warmer than it would otherwise be. The Trade Winds drive the water westward along the equator and at mid-latitudes the water is driven eastwards by the easterlies. These opposing winds cause the currents in the ocean basins to form gyres, or giant loops.
Uploaded
October 24th, 2019
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