What do deep ocean currents form

Ocean currents play an important role in regulating the climate around the world. There are two main types of ocean currents: surface currents and deep ocean currents. Surface currents are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. These currents bring heat from the tropics to the polar regions; the Gulf Stream, for instance, brings warm water along the eastern coast of the US up to Northern Europe.

Deep currents, also known as thermohaline circulation, result from differences in water density. These currents occur when cold, dense water at the poles sinks. Surface water flows to replace sinking water, causing a conveyor belt-like effect of water circulating around the globe on a year journey.

Understanding how these different ocean currents work, what impacts ocean currents, and tracking changes in these systems can help us better plan for climate change, map shipping routes, and optimize the placement of offshore renewable energy and aquaculture operations. There are many factors that cause ocean currents. Of course, deep currents impact surface currents, which carry warm water to the poles.

Because of these conditions, the water in deep ocean currents is also very dense. Many deep currents follow a specific circulation pattern as they travel around the planet, and the pattern usually forms a cycle. Most sinking deep water currents form in the North Atlantic, near Iceland, and from there the deep current begins its circulation pattern.

The highly dense water in the deep current flows southward passed the southern edge of Africa, travels across the southern Indian Ocean, flows passed the east side of Australia, and merges into the North Pacific. Once the deep current enters the North Pacific, increasing temperatures cause a lower density in the deep water, and in turn the water becomes more buoyant and rises up to the surface again.

The surface water in the North Pacific then flows south, sliding between Asia and Australia, wraps around the southern edge of Africa again--but this time moving west--and then flows across the South Atlantic. From the South Atlantic, the water connects with the Gulf Stream and flows up north again. Those nutrient support the growth of plankton and form the base of a rich ecosystem. Upwelling also takes place along the equator between the North and South Equatorial Currents.

Winds blow the surface water north and south of the equator so deep water undergoes upwelling. The nutrients rise to the surface and support a great deal of life in the equatorial oceans.

Skip to main content. Oceans and Coastal Environments. Search for:. Deep Currents Red arrows indicate surface water currents and blue arrows indicate deep water currents. Licenses and Attributions. Both the atmosphere and the oceans transport heat from low latitudes near the equator to high latitudes near the poles. Cool air and water currents make the return trip from high latitudes back towards the equator.

For the atmosphere, this circulation that globally redistributes heat is accomplished by winds; for the ocean, it is accomplished by currents. In the most general sense, a current is a region of water that moves more rapidly than its surroundings. There are surface ocean currents and deep ocean currents. We will learn about both here. The transport of heat from equator to poles is not distributed uniformly over the globe — it is concentrated in the major ocean currents.

In this lesson we will study these currents and will learn about the forces responsible for their movement. Global Atmospheric Circulation click image to enlarge. Global Ocean Currents click image to enlarge.