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The heating of the ocean surface by the sun is the PRIMARY source of energy that drives the ocean currents. How and where they move is dependent on the spinning of the earth, wind patterns and the positions of the continents and oceans and the cool polar areas. In effect the ocean current transfer (solar) heat form the tropics to the poles and even out the temperature variations across the planet. winds, gravity, and water density are factors that move ocean currents.

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15y ago
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5mo ago

Ocean currents are primarily caused by wind patterns and differences in water temperature and salinity. Wind patterns create surface currents, while differences in water density drive deep ocean currents.

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13y ago

The two causes of ocean currents are wind and the rotation of the earth(etc)

The wind blows which makes the currents in the water and the rotation of the earth(gravity) makes currents in the ocean currents.

Luaye Sharawy

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the gravitational pull of the moon and under water volcanoes/earthquakes

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These currents are a result of variations in Temperature and Salinity levels.

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13y ago

Phases of the moon and the shift of tides.

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12y ago

the Coriolis Effect
The wind!

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The the wind

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wind, gravity, and density

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earths rotation

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Q: What are the two causes of ocean currents?
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What causes the formation of the two types of ocean currents?

Ocean currents are primarily caused by wind patterns, the Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), and differences in water density due to temperature and salinity variations. Surface currents are driven by winds, while deep ocean currents are influenced by density differences and temperature gradients. The combination of these factors creates the two types of ocean currents.


What causes the patterns of surface currents in the ocean?

The Earth rotating and its tilt of the axis forms the oceans' tides and currents.


What are the three types of ocean currents?

The three types of ocean currents are surface currents, deep currents, and tidal currents. Surface currents are driven by winds, deep currents are driven by density and temperature differences, and tidal currents are driven by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.


Do energy from the moon causes winds and ocean currents?

The energy from the moon primarily causes the ocean tides through gravitational forces, rather than winds and ocean currents. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the sun, which creates differences in air pressure that lead to the movement of air. Ocean currents are mainly driven by a combination of wind, temperature, salinity, and the shape of the ocean basins.


What causes surface ocean currents to flow in a circular pattern or earths revolution earths revolutoin or earths rotation?

Surface ocean currents flow in a circular pattern due to a combination of Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect) and the shape of the continents. The Coriolis effect causes water to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in the circular motion of currents. This, along with the shape of the coastlines, influences the direction and pattern of ocean currents.

Related questions

What are causes of the ocean currents?

The two causes of ocean currents are wind and the rotation of the earth(etc) The wind blows which makes the currents in the water and the rotation of the earth(gravity) makes currents in the ocean currents. Luaye Sharawy


What causes the formation of the two type of ocean currents?

The MOON and SUN


What causes ocean currents and why is it important?

waves


What causes the formation of the two types of ocean currents?

Ocean currents are primarily caused by wind patterns, the Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), and differences in water density due to temperature and salinity variations. Surface currents are driven by winds, while deep ocean currents are influenced by density differences and temperature gradients. The combination of these factors creates the two types of ocean currents.


What causes mild climates in Europe?

ThE ocean currents


What ocean current causes warming?

up currents


HOW does the Coriolis effect impact ocean currents in the southern and northern hemisphere?

In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes ocean currents to be deflected to the right. In the southern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes ocean currents to be deflected to the left. This deflection leads to the clockwise rotation of ocean currents in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise rotation in the southern hemisphere.


How do deep ocean currents occur?

It is from differing temperatures of air above it that causes currents to flow in the water.


What force between the ocean and wind causes surface currents?

;


What effect causes ocean currents to curve to the right or the left?

the answer is Coriolis


What causes ocean waves currents?

Winds and subsea movement of water.


What causes deep ocean surface currents?

The gravitation pull on the earth.