الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Ocean circulation is important for many reasons. Horizontal ocean currents move water and heat from equatorial regions towards the poles. This has considerable influence on the climate and weather of much of our plant. Vertical ocean circulation can move oxygen and other important gases to the ocean depths. It also transports nutrients from deeper waters to the surface, where they can be used by plants in photosynthesis, (Ross, 1995). The major oceanic current systems result from the combined influence of the wind blowing on the ocean (surface currents) and variations in seawater density (deep currents). Both movements result directly from solar energy. |