Ocean Currents and Climate

These flashcards cover important vocabulary related to ocean currents and their impact on global climate.

Surface currents

Ocean currents that move water horizontally and affect weather and climate by redistributing heat.

Upwelling

The vertical movement of water in the ocean that brings nutrient-rich cold water to the surface.

Density Currents

Deep ocean currents driven by differences in water density, affected by temperature and salinity.

Salinity

The amount of salt in the water, influencing its density.

Temperature

The degree of heat present in the water, affecting its density.

Global conveyor belt

A vast system of ocean currents that circulate water around the globe, driven by differences in density.

Colder water

Water with lower temperatures, which has higher density.

Salt Water

Water with a high concentration of salt, increasing its density.

Deep ocean currents

Currents that flow deep below the surface due to variations in temperature and salinity.