What Do Ocean and Wind Currents Have in Common?

Ocean currents are large masses of water moved by winds, tides and gravity. Wind can generate currents near shoreline on a small scale, while winds on the open ocean affect currents on a global scale. The relationship between wind currents and water currents is part of what influences the earth's climate

Ocean Currents

• The way ocean currents move influences the climate and living conditions for every living thing in water and on land. Ocean currents, which are affected by wind patterns, move water around the planet, helping to distribute moisture and regulate climates. Because of pollution, currents and wind are also linked to climate change and global warming.

Wind and Weather

• Winds are caused by atmospheric pressure differences, which are a result of the rise and fall of temperature and humidity. An example of regular wind patterns that affect oceanic currents include the trade winds. Trade winds are surface winds near the Earth's equator that blow from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere. These winds act as the directional flow, or current, for tropical storms and cyclones that form over oceans. Together with the trade winds, the Westerlies pattern leads to strong ocean currents on the western side of oceans. The Westerlies carry warmer waters and winds to the western coasts of continents, which creates weather patterns and climate changes there as well.

Currents and Oceans

• Some examples of major surface currents that affect global weather include the Gulf Stream, the North Atlantic Current, the California Current, the Atlantic South Equatorial Current and the Westward Drift.