Topic explanation

Standard explanation

Ocean currents are large-scale movements of seawater that redistribute heat, salt and other properties around the planet.

Key points

• Greater density → greater tendency to sink
• Surface Currents: Ocean circulation can be divided broadly into surface currents and deep currents. Surface c
• Deep Currents: Deep circulation is influenced strongly by density differences caused by temperature and salinity.
• Ocean currents redistribute heat.
• Surface and deep currents have different main drivers.

Labelled diagram