43.2k views
2 votes
explain why the ocean currents are warmer in some parts of the earth than others. what causes the currents to move ?

1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

An ocean current is generated by a number of forces acting upon the water, including wind, the Coriolis effect, breaking waves, cabbeling, and temperature and salinity differences.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cold water from the north and south poles, warm water from the equator, are in constant motion. Depending on where you are, the water will be freezing or warm.

The temperature variation arises because areas near the equator receive more direct solar radiation than areas near the poles. However, these areas do not constantly get warmer and warmer, because the ocean currents and winds transport the heat from the lower latitudes near the equator to higher latitudes near the poles.

Large quantities of heat can be absorbed and stored in the surface layers of the ocean. This heat is transported by ocean currents. In this way, the ocean currents help regulate Earth's climate by facilitating the transfer of heat from warm tropical areas to colder areas near the poles.

User Gary Thomas
by
4.9k points