1. Sea Surface
29 September 2014

2. Convection: heat transfer through fluidic materials such as liquids and gases. Convection is partly why we have ocean currents.

3. Much like air, cooler water is more dense and sinks beneath warmer water. Warmer water tends rise above cooler water since it is less dense.

4. Water near the equator is warmer and tends to move northward or southward to cooler water. Part of this is also due to the prevailing winds.

5. The prevailing winds blow generally in one direction over a particular latitude on Earth. These winds constantly blow in the same direction.

6. The prevailing winds push the top layers of the ocean with them leading to surface currents. These winds and currents are not completely parallel.

7. The winds curve due to the Earth’s rotation
The winds curve due to the Earth’s rotation. In North Hemisphere, winds are pulled to the right. In South Hemisphere, winds are pulled to the left.

8. The deflection of a mass due to the rotation of the Earth is known as the Coriolis Effect. The effect is smaller at the poles because of the smaller distances in rotation (like an inside track).

9. The Gulf Stream: Strong ocean current originating in the Caribbean and extending into the North Atlantic.

10. People could not inhabit Earth if the oceans did not store energy
People could not inhabit Earth if the oceans did not store energy. There is as much energy stored in the top 3 meters of the oceans as there is energy in the entire atmosphere.

11. Some animals take advantage of currents to facilitate migration
Some animals take advantage of currents to facilitate migration. Loggerhead sea turtles use currents to “boost” journeys to the north, for example.