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Current - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Surface ocean currents are driven by the global wind patterns, refer to the wind chapter for more information
      - Deep ocean currents form because of variability in water temperature, density, and salinity. This effect is called thermohaline circulation. Starting in the poles, this circulation starts with the melting and freezing of sea ice, kicking off a global circulation of water on a time scale of 1000 years.
    - - Deep ocean currents carry with them nutrients, oxygen, and heat necessary for many different ecosystems to survive.
      - The biggest effect of these ocean currents is their distribution of energy all over the globe. After absorbing energy, or heat from the sun in tropical waters, the currents carry this all over the globe. Constantly, water is evaporating off of the ocean increasing temperature and humidity. These changes in temperature are what drive weather fronts and the humidity is what forms the precipitation for their storms.
      - When the ocean transports this energy from the tropics to the rest of the globe, this is what regulates the earths climate. Without these circulations the equator would be unbearably warm and most other areas would be incredibly cold all year long.