Surface currents are primarily caused by the wind, which transfers its energy to the ocean's surface through friction. The rotation of the Earth also influences the direction of these currents through the Coriolis effect.
The process that transfers energy from the warm surface of the Earth to air particles in the atmosphere is called convection. As the Earth's surface heats up, the air in contact with it also warms up and becomes less dense, causing it to rise. This rising warm air transfers energy to the surrounding cooler air particles through convection currents.
The steps to how the sun provides the energy for surface ocean currents
The steps to how the sun provides the energy for surface ocean currents
The steps to how the sun provides the energy for surface ocean currents
The steps to how the sun provides the energy for surface ocean currents
The steps to how the sun provides the energy for surface ocean currents
The steps to how the sun provides the energy for surface ocean currents
The largest contributor to surface currents is the wind, which transfers energy to the ocean's surface through friction. This wind-driven motion creates currents that flow across vast distances, influenced by factors such as the Earth's rotation (Coriolis effect), the shape of coastlines, and the position of continents. Additionally, variations in water temperature and salinity can also affect surface currents, but wind remains the primary driving force.
The sun causes currents in the ocean because it is warming the water in the ocean in the day while it is hot, and then in the night when the sun goes down, the ocean starts to cool. Since the air above the water is warmer than in the water, this causes the water to rise up to the warmth until it gets cooled by the night, or from rain. This is what created movement and currents in the ocean from the sun.
The sun is major source of energy that power surface currents because the sun causes wind to blow and winds cause surface currents to form
Radiation