Ocean Motion
These regular rises and falls of sea level are caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the moon.
What are tides?
This global circulation system moves warm and cold water across the world’s oceans, regulating climate.
What is the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt?
This force, created by wind blowing across the surface of the ocean, is responsible for generating most surface currents.
What is wind?
These rhythmic movements of water are usually caused by wind and can vary in height and frequency.
What are waves?
This part of the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt starts in the North Atlantic, where cold water sinks and begins its deep journey.
What is the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)?
These structures on the seafloor can redirect deep ocean currents and influence upwelling zones.
What are underwater mountains or seamounts?
This effect, caused by Earth’s rotation, deflects ocean currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
What is the Coriolis effect?
When warm surface water is transported away from coastlines, this process pulls deep water up to replace it.
What is coastal upwelling?
This warming phase of the Pacific Ocean disrupts upwelling along the South American coast, often harming fisheries.
What is El Niño?
This process brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean to the surface, often supporting rich fisheries.
What is upwelling?
Changes in this property, often caused by evaporation or freezing, can increase water's density and cause it to sink.
What is salinity?
Ocean currents help transport this from the equator to the poles, playing a key role in regulating Earth’s climate.
What is heat?
These currents are driven by differences in temperature and salinity, affecting the density of seawater.
What are density currents?
If global temperatures continue to rise, this major oceanic conveyor could slow or shut down, drastically altering weather patterns.
What is the thermohaline circulation?
These sudden changes in sea level are caused by underwater earthquakes or landslides and can travel across entire oceans.
What are tsunamis?