1.  Prevailing surface winds and the heating of water at the equator start a process that creates giant rivers in the oceans  The Coriolis effect and the positioning of the continents also influences the movement of these currents

2. Because the continents do not allow currents to circulate unimpeded around the globe like winds, large circular currents are set in motion called Gyres The west side of a gyre is warm and moist and the east side is cool and dry

4.  The Gulf Stream is responsible for raising the average temperature of parts of Europe ands Scandinavia by as much as 10 degrees Celsius  It is the strongest current on earth with peak velocities near 2 m/s  At its source 30 million cubic meters per second to become the Gulf Stream  For comparison, the Mississippi, the Amazon and the sum of all other rivers surging into the Atlantic amount to a meager 0.6 million cubic meters per second

6.  A combination of gravity, temperature and salinity causes currents in the ocean move vertically allowing for a 3 dimensional cycling of heat and nutrients  Evaporation causes warm ocean currents to become progressively salty  Higher concentrations of salt meet cold arctic water and become very dense  This water sinks and continues moving deep under the ocean This water sinks and continues moving deep under the ocean

7.  Alteration of ocean circulation due to changes in water temperature and salinity may lead to rapid climate change  This may happen due to decreased salinity in North Atlantic from melting sea ice and glaciers.  The faster the increase in fresh water the greater the risk to permanently shutting down thermohaline currents  This would drastically alter the energy balance on Earth and have potentially catastrophic impact for parts of our planet This would drastically alter the energy balance on Earth and have potentially catastrophic impact for parts of our planet