Ocean Current in simple terms large scale movement of water in specific direction around the ocean due to some forces. Ocean Currents are made up of horizontal and vertical components of the circulation system of ocean waters that is produced by gravity, wind friction, and water density variation in different parts of the ocean. Ocean currents are driven by wind energy. Wind creates friction on the surface of the ocean, transferring its energy to the water. This energy then causes the water to move in the direction of the wind, forming currents. The strength and direction of the wind determine the speed and direction of the currents. Therefore, wind energy is the primary driving force behind the movement of ocean currents.
There are two types of ocean currents: Warm Ocean Currents and Cold Ocean Currents
- Warm currents: It brings warm water into cold water areas and is usually observed on the east coast of continents in the low and middle latitudes (true in both hemispheres). In the northern hemisphere they are found on the west coasts of continents in high latitudes.
- Warm ocean currents originate near the equator and move towards the poles or higher latitudes. Warm ocean currents raise the temperature in cold areas.
- Cold currents: It brings cold water into warm water areas. These currents are usually found on the west coast of the continents in the low and middle latitudes (true in both hemispheres) and on the east coast in the higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Cold ocean currents originate near the poles or higher latitudes and move towards the tropics or lower latitudes. Cold ocean currents decrease the temperature in warmer areas.
- Cold currents are lesser in number as compared to the warm or hot current.
List of Warm Ocean Currents:
| Name of the Current | Region |
| North Equatorial Current | Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean |
| Kuroshio Current/Black Current/Japan current | Pacific Ocean |
| North Pacific Current (collision of Kurioshio & Oyashio) | Pacific Ocean |
| Alaska Current | North Pacific Ocean |
| Counter Equatorial Current | Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean |
| El Nino Current (Specific Weather Current) | Pacific Ocean |
| Tsushima Current | Sea of Japan |
| South Equatorial Current | Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean |
| East Australian Current | South West of Pacific |
| Florida Current | South Atlantic and Caribbean Sea |
| Gulf Stream | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Norwegian Current | Atlantic Ocean |
| Irminger Current | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Rannell Current ( It is a branch of the Gulf Stream) | Atlantic Ocean |
| Antilles Current | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Brazilian Current | South Atlantic Ocean |
| Mozambique Current | Indian Ocean |
| Agulhas Current | South West Indian Ocean |
| South-West Monsoon Current | Indian Ocean |
| Angola Current | Atlantic Ocean |
| Carribean Current | Atlantic Ocean |
| North Atlantic Current | Atlantic Ocean |
| Leeuwin Current | Indian Ocean |
List of Cold Ocean Currents:
| Name of the Current | Region |
| Humboldt or Peruvian Current | South Pacific Ocean |
| Kurile/Oyashio Current/Okhotsk Current | North Pacific Ocean |
| California Current | North Pacific Ocean |
| Labrador Current | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Canary Current | North Atlantic Ocean |
| Eastern Greenland Current | Arctic Ocean and North Atlantic Ocean |
| Benguela Current | South Atlantic Ocean |
| The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) | Southern Ocean |
| Falkland Current/Malvinas Current | South Atlantic Ocean |
| North-East Monsoon Current | North Indian Ocean |
| Somali Current | West Indian Ocean |
| Western Australian Current | South Indian Ocean |
| South Indian Ocean Current | South Indian Ocean |
| Baffin Island Current | Arctic Ocean |
| Cape Horn Current | Atlantic Ocean |
| South Atlantic Current | Atlantic Ocean |
| Kamchatka Current | Pacific Ocean |
| Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) | Antarctica |
The largest ocean current in the world is The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). It is the only current that flows uninterrupted around Antarctica, connecting all the oceanic basins. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is also known for being the strongest and deepest-reaching current on Earth.
Important Currents as Ocean wise:
Atlantic Ocean:
Angola Current (Warm), Antilles Current (Warm), Benguela Current (Cold), Brazil Current (Warm), Cape Horn Current (Cold), Caribbean Current (Warm), Falkland Current (Cold), Florida Current (Warm), North Atlantic Current (Warm), South Atlantic Current (Cold)
Pacific Ocean:
Alaska Current (Warm), Humboldt Current (Cold), Kamchatka Current (Cold), Kuroshio Current (Warm), North Pacific Current (Warm)
Indian Ocean:
Agulhas Current (Warm), Leeuwin Current (Warm), Mozambique Current (Warm) ,West Australian Current (Cold)
Arctic Ocean:
Baffin Island Current ,Labrador Current
The North and South Equatorial Currents in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are driven by the trade winds.
North Atlantic Ocean Currents: Florida, Gulf of Stream, North Atlantic Drift, Labrador, Canaries
South Atlantic Ocean Currents: Falkland, Benguela, Brazilian, South Atlantic Drift
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