When we talk about the ocean currents We do not refer to those horizontal movements of the waters that belong to the oceans or the great seas. Normally they are measured according to the speed they will move and the m / s or knots are usually used. The study of ocean currents is important in order to know the planet's climate and the transport of energy from one area to another. You have to know that these water movements are driven by factors such as wind, variations in water density and tides.
Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you everything you need to know about ocean currents, their dynamics and their main characteristics.
Factors of ocean currents
For ocean currents to exist, several factors must act, which are what make them move at a certain speed. These water transports help both the migrations of animals, the transport of energy from one area to another and the regulation of the planet's climate. Among the factors that we find that are the determining factors of the origin of ocean currents are the following: wind, variation of the density of water and tides.
The wind is what drives these ocean currents to move from one area to another. For this to happen, the wind must be close to the ocean surface and have sufficient force to drive the currents that circulate water through the ocean basins. Variations in water density are primarily due to the salinity of the regions. The movement of water currents due to changes in water density is known as thermohaline circulation. This is colloquially known as the ocean conveyor belt. Here we see that the currents are driven by differences in water density due to both temperature variations and salinity variations in the regions. For a more in-depth study of this phenomenon, you can consult the article on the convection currents.
We know that comparing ocean waters by region is not the same. Salinity causes a change in the movement of water. We must keep in mind that currents driven by differences in density occur at deeper and shallower levels. They cause the water to move much slower than tidal currents and wind waves. In other words, we won't see strong waves simply because the waters have different densities.
Finally we have the tides. These tides are the rises and falls of the water level depending on the movement of the moon. This displacement of the waters it generates powerful currents especially near the coasts. Normally, these water movements are also affected by the global climate. This is due to the fact that water circulations with warmer temperatures are seen from the equator to other colder areas near the poles.
The Coriolis effect
One of the effects known to be one of the main drivers of ocean currents is the Coriolis effect. Although it is not a movement factor like the others we have named, its performance must be taken into account. Is about a factor of motion that occurs as a consequence of the Earth's rotation. This causes the oceanic waters to rotate and flow towards different regions and directions according to geographic location.
The motion produced by the Coriolis gate will not be the same in all regions of the planet. In areas farther from the equator, the movement of ocean currents due to this effect is much slower. However, in areas closer to the equator, the waters spin faster. Therefore, we can conclude that the Coriolis effect is responsible for deflecting ocean currents to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. The deflection increases as they approach the poles and is zero at the equator.
Types of ocean currents
There are different types of ocean currents according to some main characteristics. Let's see what they are:
Coastal currents
These are those that flow parallel to the coast. They do not usually exceed the speed of one knot, although they can exceed this speed as long as we look within the swell zone. The intensity of these coastal currents normally decreases as they move away from the coast. They can even present a danger to swimmers and divers entering areas with rocky areas.
Rip currents
They are also known as return currents. These currents are known since the sea tries to find its own level. These currents can rRun distances from 25 meters to a kilometer depending on the strength of the waves. The larger the waves near the coast, the stronger the rip currents. Keep in mind that the rip current's strength is strongest during calm waves.
Rip currents are formed by the irregular breaking of waves along their crests. We should know that waves carry a lot of movement energy before breaking. Therefore, this energy returns to the sea through a channel formed by the continuous movement of the waves.
Wind currents
These are also known as surface currents. In this case, it is the wind that blows over the surface layers of water to move them in a specific direction. Typically, the speed of wind currents decreases with increasing distance. they lose intensity as depth increases. This is because the wind doesn't exert as much force in deep waters. The wind exerts enough force to influence ocean movements around the world.
The speed of the wind currents depends on the constancy, the duration of the winds and the intensity.
Convection currents
These are driven in part by winds, although their main characteristic is the variation in water temperatures. This is the same as what happens with convection currents in the Earth's mantle. When there is a temperature difference, there are movements to balance the temperature, and they are distributed differently.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about ocean currents.