What makes the currents in the ocean move?

Question

What makes the currents in the ocean move?

Answer 1

the moon

Answer 2

The #1 driving force in ocean currents is Earth's rotation.

Second would be prevailing winds (which are also driven by Earth's rotation).

Currents are also blocked or steered in new directions by landmasses, such as continents.

Lower on the scale would be factors such as lunar and solar gravity (tidal forces), salinity, and temperature.

Answer 3

wind, coriolis effect, rotation of the earth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_ef...

Answer 4

The gravitational pull with the moon.

Answer 5

There are many many MANY factors, not just the moon.

Yes the moon causes the ocean to swell causing movement.

But Wind effects surface currents far more than the moon.

Then you have Thermal effects from cold water meeting warm water, causing turbulence in the water, Basically liquid wind under the ocean.

Hope this helps...

Answer 6

Just to add on: Currents in the ocean represent a characteristic of water molecules. They are like any other liquid molecules, all of which diffuse. This act of diffusion ( molecules spreading to other parts so that the overall concentration of molecules throughout is more or less the same) increases the viscosity of the solvent----water, in this case.

Ocean currents are usually more prevalent in salt waters. Look for the main ocean currents on the globe or an atlas and you're find that there aren't many, if no, ocean or sea currents near the Arctic and Antarctic, for example, the Arctic Sea. This is because there is a higher concentration of fresh water there, meaning that the salinity level is low. You may wonder why salinity affects the ocean currents.

Salt particles, like water molecules, diffuse although their particle sizes are smaller. The movement of salt and water molecules will increase the force or turbulence in the water, as water molecules flow to areas with lower concentration while salt molecules diffuse to places with lower salt concentration. This exchange takes place all the time, as the water is constantly flowing, due to the gravitational pull of the moon. So, to be exact, the gravitational pull of the moon, rotation of the Earth, wind friction and water density differences are the primary sources of ocean currents, while salinity is the secondary source of it.