Deep+Currents

Deep Currents Deep currents are stream-like movements of the ocean far below the surface. Deep ocean currents form because of the temperature and salinity. There is one deep current in the Antarctic Ocean, because the water temperature there is very low, causing the water to be dense, and sink to the bottom of the ocean. Also because of the high salinity, it makes it sink faster. It takes deep ocean currents years to complete one cycle, even though it’s in the bottom of the ocean, it moves slowly. Antarctic waters are nutrient-rich, and when a deep current begins its cycle, it starts to distribute nutrients to the whole world. There are more deep currents that form, the North Atlantic Deep Water, formed in the Labrador Sea and Greenland Sea. It travels to Africa and it can also go to the Southern Ocean. Another one is called The Great Oceanic Conveyor Belt, it transfers warm water from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean water as a not-very-deep current, and cold water from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean as a deep current. There is a very interesting deep current in the Mediterranean Sea. Since the Mediterranean Sea has a lot of salt, the water sinks to the bottom of the ocean, and it exits through the Strait of Gibraltar. At the same time, some of the Atlantic currents enters at the same time at the top.

Conveyor Belt:



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