It's the same reason you take the escalator instead of the stairs, or the moving sidewalk instead of the stationary one. Why work harder than you have to?
It is easier and faster for ships to sail with the ocean currents.
Ocean currents will carry anything from small plankton accross ocean to helping other marine life find warmer or colder waters. to ocean currents can also help guide ships across bodies of water. the ocean currents will also redistribute the density in the ocean water.
The main currents that brought ships into the Caribbean include the North Atlantic Current and the Caribbean Current. The North Atlantic Current flows southwest from the North Atlantic Ocean, guiding vessels towards the Caribbean Sea. Additionally, the Caribbean Current flows northwestward along the coast of Central America, facilitating navigation into the region. These currents were crucial for maritime trade and exploration during the Age of Sail.
Trade ships leaving Philadelphia reached the Atlantic Ocean by navigating down the Delaware River. They would travel southward along the river, passing through various channels and estuaries. Eventually, the river opens into the Delaware Bay, which connects directly to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing ships to set sail for international destinations. The river's navigation was facilitated by tides and currents, making it a vital route for commerce.
The most common type of ocean pollution is garbage or sewage. They are readily dumped into the ocean by ships and countries located along the ocean.
An equatorial cir, or equatorial current, refers to the ocean currents that flow along the equator in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These currents are primarily driven by trade winds and play a crucial role in regulating global climate by distributing heat across the planet. They also influence marine ecosystems and navigation patterns for ships. The equatorial current system includes features like the North and South Equatorial Currents, which help facilitate the larger ocean circulation patterns.
Today, ocean currents are mapped using satellite technology, underwater gliders, and buoys equipped with sensors to measure temperature and salinity. In the late 1700s, mapping ocean currents involved observations made by ships at sea, using methods like timed drifts and floating objects. The technology and data collection methods have evolved significantly over the years, leading to more accurate and detailed maps of ocean currents.
Arab traders sailing the Indian ocean in their sailing ships preferred to travel during the months of June and July because they were the prevailing months of monsoon winds; that is why they are called trade winds.
The routes that ships follow are called Sea Lanes. These lanes help keep the ships from collision, are the most direct routes from point A to point B and although may not be the straightest route, they are the safest and fastest. Many Sea Lanes follow existing sea currents.
trade winds
There are about 80,000 ocean-going ships in the world.
Ships stay away from the bottom of Niagara Falls.