ocean currents

• • currents flow in clockwise gyres in the north atlantic
• • warm currents travel from equator towards the poles eg. the north atlantic drift
• • cold currents transfer cold water to the tropics eg. the labrador
• • ocean currents are greatly influenced by prevailing winds with energy being transferred by friction to the current
• • land masses like north america divert currents
• • due to salinity, density differences occur in water
  • cold polar water sinks and spreads towards the equator displacing warm water to the poles
• • coriolis effect deflects current right in the northern hemisphere