Ocean water is constantly evaporating, increasing the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air to form rain and storms that are then carried by trade winds. In fact, almost all rain that falls on land starts off in the ocean. The tropics are particularly rainy because heat absorption, and thus ocean evaporation, is highest in this area. Major current systems typically flow clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere, in circular patterns that often trace the coastlines.
Ocean currents act much like a conveyor belt, transporting warm water and precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles back to the tropics. Finally, currents affect swimmers and fishers. Localized currents can be observed in the form of rip currents at the beach, or a piece of floating wood meandering in different patterns in a tidal bay or river. Swimming at the beach near rip currents can be very dangerous. Before going to the beach, learn how to recognize rip currents and strong shore currents, and pay attention to the warning signs.
Recreational and commercial fishers pay close attention to the timing and strength of currents to maximize their chances of catching fish. How Currents Affect Our Lives? Tidal currents are the only type of currents that change regularly and can be easily predicted.
The Coriolis effect makes storms swirl clockwise in the Southern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Also called thermohaline circulation. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.
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The weather you encounter day to day depends on where you live. Places around the Equator experience warm weather all year round, but experience alternate periods of rainy and dry seasons. Places near lakes may experience more snow in the winter, whereas places on continental plains may be more prone to hail, thunderstorms, and tornados in the summer.
Learn more about regional climates with this curated resource collection. Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind Coriolis Effect , and water density.
Ocean water moves in two directions: horizontally and vertically. Horizontal movements are referred to as currents, while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings. Explore how ocean currents are interconnected with other systems with these resources. Climate describes the average weather conditions of a particular place over a 30 year period.
All places on earth have their own climates. Different from weather events, which are short-term and temporary phenomenon, climates are usually steady and predictable, and shape how organisms and human civilizations evolve and adapt in any given region.
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