Most of the earth's surface is ocean. Whatever happens in the ocean, must have a great influence on the land. Especially about climate and weather. Because the movement of air in the oceans and land are interconnected with each other. The winds that move the sea surface also carry energy along with the movement of the currents.
The process of rotation and revolution of the earth affects the two kinds of wind systems that drive the world's ocean currents. In the northern hemisphere, winds move ocean currents clockwise, while in the southern hemisphere, ocean currents move counterclockwise. The movement of ocean currents plays a role in maintaining climate stability on earth.
Ocean currents move cold water from the poles to the tropics and vice versa. Ocean currents occur due to heating in some parts of the ocean. Warmer seawater will create a temperature difference with the surrounding water. So there is a process of diffusion (diffusion).
The warm water will flow towards the colder water. In this case the water at the equator (equator) is warmer than the water at the poles. So the equatorial water tends to flow towards the poles. This is what makes the ocean currents always move.
A number of ocean currents in the world
The following is the distribution of ocean currents in the world:
a. Around the Atlantic Ocean to the North of the Equator North Equatorial Current
This ocean current is a hot current that moves westward and parallels the equator. The north equatorial ocean currents are driven by the northeast trade winds.
Gulfstream
Gulfstream Is a current driven by the north and south equatorial currents, moving around Florida (United States) and the Gulf of Mexico.
East Greenland Current
In the form of cold ocean currents that move from the north pole towards the island of Greenland.
Labrador Current
is also a cold current that moves from the north to the south across the east coast of Labrador.
Canary
Current A cold current that travels through the coast of Spain and flows south (west coast of Africa) to the South of the Equator, the South Equatorial Current is a hot ocean current that moves westward, parallel to the equator. These currents are driven by the southeast trade winds.
Brazilian Current
A hot current that flows along the coast of South America (Brazilia) and continues to flow south.
Benguela Current
A cold current that moves northward along the west coast of South Africa and which eventually returns to become the South Equatorial Current.
West Wind Current
This is a continuation of the Brazilian Current which is to the east and is a cold current.
b. Around the Pacific Ocean
To the North of the Equator North Equatorial Currents
Hot ocean currents that move westward parallel to the equator due to northeastern trade winds.
Kuroshiwo Current
Is a hot current that flows from the Philippines to the waters of Japan, then to North America.
California Current
The cold current continues from the Kuroshiwo, moving along the west coast of North America toward the equator.
The Oyashiwo Current
Is a cold current from the Bering Strait to the south of the Japanese Archipelago and meets the Kuroshiwo Current. The meeting of these two currents makes the surrounding waters rich in fish, because there is an abundance of plankton in that area.
To the South of the Equator, the South Equatorial Current
Is a hot current that moves westward parallel to the equator due to the southeast trade winds.
The Humboldt Current or Peru Current
Is a cold ocean current that flows along the west coast of South America to the north.
East Australian Current
An ocean current that moves along the coast of East Australia to the south.
The West Wind Current
Is an ocean current in eastern Australia that flows eastward.
c. Around the Indian Ocean to the north of the equator monsoo, the southwestis a hot current that moves along the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Benguela, due to the southwest monsoon.
Northeast Monsoon Current
Is a hot ocean current. Move west through the Bay of Benguela and the Arabian Sea.
South of the Equator, the Maskarena Current and the Agulhas Current are hot currents. The Maskarena Current flows to the south through the coast of the East Madagascar Island, while the Agulhas Current flows to the west.
The West Wind Current
Is a cold ocean current that flows along the west coast of the Australian continent to the north.