Exploratour - The Surface of the Earth
Ocean Currents
Within the ocean waters are currents. Currents are like giant rivers within the waters themselves. In this picture, the currents look like a giant conveyor belt. These currents circulate the waters around the world. For example, currents carry waters which have become cold and dense to the bottom of the ocean, and bring less dense waters to the surface, where they can be warmed by the sun.
The major currents in the oceans are:
- North & South Equatorial Current
- North Atlantic Drift
- Caribbean Current
- Gulf Stream
- Subarctic Current
- Japan Current
- East Australian current