What is the significance of ocean currents? Why do currents matter? What is an ocean current

I love the sea, especially at a time when the bulk of vacationers have already left. You can be alone on the shore, enjoying its beauty and hidden power. Yes, hidden in the oceans great strength- currents, which I will now talk about.

What is an ocean current

This is the name given to huge masses of water that move either continuously or periodically. There are a lot of them, and each has its own characteristics. It is no coincidence that they are called “rivers of the ocean”, but one thing distinguishes them from the usual rivers important feature. So, as you know, the movement water masses in rivers obeys force universal gravity, but in the case of currents driving force other circumstances arise.

Scientists have not yet been able to recreate the complete picture, but there are already some explanations of the nature of sea currents. Firstly, the ocean has no actual boundaries, and its waters are in motion due to physical and chemical factors:

movement of air masses (in the case of surface currents);
rotation of the Earth;
difference in water density at different depths;
temperature difference;
different indicators salinity.

Regarding the direction, currents are divided into meridian (from the equator to the poles) and zonal (to the east and west).

What is the significance of ocean currents

One of the main physical indicators of flow is temperature. For the Earth, and more precisely, for all life on it, this is extremely important. It is thanks to currents that stability is determined climatic zones, and some of them are directly dependent on the flow temperature. For example, the Gulf Stream is sometimes called the “furnace” of Europe, since its warm waters, washing it from the north, make the winter much milder, displacing the cold northern air. Not only heat is distributed, but also the mass of substances dissolved in sea water, and oxygen.

This creates favorable conditions to support life in the ocean, in addition, currents carry organisms over many kilometers, where they colonize new territories. This is how the remote islands, whose nature is rich in endemics, were populated.

The importance of oceanic sea currents

Water circulation ocean currents all over the world provide significant influence on the movement of energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. They are important for shaping the planet's weather.

It is an example of a warm current - it originates in the Gulf of Mexico and moves north towards Europe.

Since with warm water related to the temperature of the water at the surface of the ocean, the warm flow keeps places like Europe warmer than other areas at the same latitudes.

The Humboldt Current is an example of a current that influences weather.

At the same time, the cold current, as a rule, off the coast of Chile and Peru, creates a cool climate on the coast, and arid in the north of Chile. However, the climate of Chile is changing and it is believed that the oceanic El Niño current, plays an important role in its disruption.

The movement of energy, moisture, and also debris can travel around the world with the help of currents and become trapped.

Due to the accumulation of debris, there may be man-made disasters. Ocean currents also create natural accumulations such as icebergs.

The Labrador Current, which flows south from the North Arctic Ocean along the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, is famous for the movement of icebergs in the North Atlantic.

Sea currents play an important role in navigation.

Ocean currents play a role in reducing shipping costs and fuel consumption.
Shipping companies and sailing ships use ocean currents to reduce the time spent on sea travel.

Finally, ocean currents are important for distribution sea life in the world.

Many animal species rely on currents to move from one place to another, which is important factor their breeding and movement over large areas.

Ocean currents as alternative energy sources

Today, ocean currents are gaining importance as possible forms of alternative energy.

Because water is dense, it carries enormous amounts of energy, which can be captured and converted into a usable form of energy by water turbines. This experimental technology is being tested in the US, Japan, China and some countries in the European Union.

Regardless of which ocean currents are used as alternative energy sources, they can reduce energy costs.

Ocean currents influence weather around the world and are essential subjects of study for geographers, meteorologists and other scientists because they have such a profound impact on the globe.

Variety of currents. Currents in the seas and oceans are as important a type of water movement as waves.

Current is the movement of water in a horizontal direction.

Currents carry huge masses of water over long distances. Their length can reach several thousand kilometers, width - tens and even hundreds of kilometers, thickness - several kilometers.

One of the largest currents is the Gulf Stream (Fig. 129). It carries more water than all the rivers of our planet combined.

Rice. 129. Main sea currents

How are warm and cold surface currents indicated on a map? Find the largest warm and cold currents in the picture.

Rice. 130. Diversity of ocean currents

Ocean currents vary in temperature, depth, and duration of existence (Fig. 130).

A current whose temperature is higher than the temperature of the surrounding water is called warm. Cold - the temperature of which is lower than the temperature of the surrounding water. If we compare the temperature of the water of the currents themselves, then the water of a cold current in the tropics can be warmer than the water of a warm current in high latitudes.

Causes of currents. Main reason the appearance of surface currents - wind. Touching the water surface, it carries water with it. Under the influence of stable westerly winds, the most powerful Western Wind current in the World Ocean arises, forming a ring around Antarctica.

The direction of currents is also influenced by the position of the continents and the outlines of their coasts. The land becomes an obstacle, forcing the current to turn and head along the coasts.

In the depths of the seas and oceans, currents are formed due to differences in the density of water. More dense waters move towards less dense ones, creating powerful water flows at depth. Information about underwater currents is important for fishing and submarine movement.

The meaning of currents. Ocean currents influence the climate and nature of the Earth. They redistribute heat and cold between latitudes. Warm currents bring heat from tropical latitudes to temperate and arctic latitudes. Cold currents return cold water to the equator. At the same time, currents strongly influence the climate of the coastal areas of the continents.

Think about how warm and cold ocean currents affect the nature of coasts.

Thanks to currents in the oceans and seas, not only heat is redistributed, but also dissolved nutrients and gases. Living organisms receive more opportunities for development. With the help of currents, plants and animals move and colonize new territories. Currents can help or hinder navigation, so mariners and fishermen must be aware of their direction and speed.

Questions and tasks

What is current?
Which current can be considered warm? which one is cold?
Name the main reasons for the formation of currents.
What is the significance of currents for the climate of the Earth and the plants and animals of the ocean?

You will learn from this article what importance currents have for the Earth’s climate.

What is the significance of ocean currents?

Ocean currents are the movement of water directed horizontally relative to the surface of the ocean.

In general, the ocean can be compared to a large heat engine, which uses solar energy instead of fuel. She sets it in motion. The machine creates an uninterrupted water exchange between the deep and surface layers of the ocean, which provide all living things in it with dissolved oxygen and have beneficial influence on the life activity of marine inhabitants.

Ocean currents play an important role in the redistribution of solar heat on our planet. It's very simple: cold currents lower the air temperature environment, and warm currents, on the contrary, increase it. Thus, the currents of the World Ocean have a huge influence on the coastal climate of continental zones. Exactly the same as air masses, they tolerate cold and heat, changing climatic temperatures.

In addition, ocean currents influence the redistribution of precipitation on land. Those territories washed by warm waters are always characterized by humid climate, and those with cold waters – a dry climate without rain, where fogs act as natural humidifiers.

Under the influence of currents and waves, ocean water is constantly mixed. As a result, cold water gradually sinks to the bottom, and warm water slowly rises to the surface. When it's warm and cold water mixes in deep depressions, it is saturated with gases and various substances. Then ocean currents distribute it throughout the water surface and affect the processes of atmospheric circulation, coastal erosion, the enrichment of oxygen in water, the movement of ice and the movement of plankton, the distribution of marine animals and fish.

Speaking about the fauna of the ocean, the importance of ocean currents in their distribution also plays an important role. They carry plankton with their waters, and large marine animals migrate behind them. It is worth noting that when a warm current meets a cold one, ascending currents of water are created, which lift rich and nutritious salts from the depths. In such places, plankton develops and reproduces at tremendous speed. Such places are fishing grounds rich in marine animals and fish.

Ocean currents also play an important role in navigation: sailing ships and shipping companies use them to reduce the time of sea travel and to reduce fuel consumption and delivery.

It happens that a cold current turns into a warm one. This leads to an increase average temperature environment by several degrees, torrential tropical downpours. They have a detrimental effect on fish: small ones die, and large ones go to other places.

We hope that from this article you learned how important ocean currents are.

1. Make a classification of water movements in the ocean based on the reason for their occurrence. Fill out the diagram

2. How does a tsunami differ from storm wind waves?

Tsunamis are waves that arise as a result of seaquakes, and wind waves are the result of wind activity. A tsunami is a forward movement of water, and wind waves are oscillatory.

3. What is the significance of ocean currents?

Ocean currents influence the climate of the territory. Cold currents bring cooling and dryness, and warm currents bring warming and precipitation. Currents also carry organic matter, contributing to their distribution across the oceans.

4. Using the ocean map in the atlas, plot on the contour map:

a) places of the highest tides - green

b) warm currents Gulf Stream, North Atlantic, Kuroshio, South Trade Wind, North Trade Wind, Brazilian and Guiana - in red

c) cold currents Peruvian, Labrador, Canary, Western Winds, Benguela - in blue

Label the currents with the initial letters of their names

5. Imagine that there was an accident on an oil tanker near the equator off the eastern shores South America. The accident resulted in an oil spill. In what areas of the ocean can traces of this accident be found? To answer, use the ocean map in the atlas.

Traces of this accident can be found in any part of the ocean, because currents will carry the oil. For example, the Northern Trade Wind Current will transport oil to the Gulf Stream, then in turn to the North Atlantic, then to the Canary or Norwegian. The southern trade wind current will carry oil into the Brazil Current, then into the Westerly Winds and then across the South Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.