Alan Sealls Weather

Ocean currents never cease, fortunately!

What keeps ocean water moving around our planet? 🌊🌎

Beneath the waves, a vast network of currents is constantly at work. Known as thermohaline circulation, or the "great ocean conveyor belt," this system moves water around the globe based on differences in temperature and salinity.

As cold, salty water sinks near the poles and warmer water rises elsewhere, ocean waters are connected in a slow-moving cycle that helps distribute heat, transport nutrients, and support life throughout the ocean. Some water can even spend centuries traveling through the deep ocean before returning to the surface!

Ready to dive deeper? Explore our Learning Zone page and discover how the "great ocean conveyor belt" connects oceans around the world:
https://scied.ucar.edu/video/ocean-move-thermohaline-circulation?utm_source=sm

📸: CLIVAR