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Deep Connections: Differences Between Deep Ocean and Surface Currents
02:32

Deep Connections: Differences Between Deep Ocean and Surface Currents

The flow of ocean currents follows predictable patterns governed by a variety of physical factors. For surface currents, which include water flow horizontally in the upper four hundred meters of the ocean, wind is the primary driving force. For deep...

Deep Connections: Deep Ocean Circulation and Global Climate
02:13

Deep Connections: Deep Ocean Circulation and Global Climate

Some scientists are concerned that just as thermohaline circulation has changed significantly over time, it could change again and possibly cause abrupt climate change in both the United States and Europe.

Going with the Flow: Measuring Ocean Currents
05:47

Going with the Flow: Measuring Ocean Currents

Given the importance of ocean currents in the marine environment, oceanographers have tried for years to accurately measure them. Advances in current meters and acoustic technology have made the process easier, but the task of measuring currents rem...

Going with the Flow: Forecasting El Nino Events
05:37

Going with the Flow: Forecasting El Nino Events

Once an El Nino event is underway, scientists have a good idea of how it's likely to behave over the subsequent six to nine months. But predicting the onset of such events in advance has proven to be very difficult.

Going with the Flow: Ocean Circulation Patterns
04:50

Going with the Flow: Ocean Circulation Patterns

Among the largest structural features in the open ocean are the subtropical gyres that occur in the major ocean basins. But while gyres loom large in the overall scheme of ocean circulation, patterns of surface current motion can often be quite vari...

Going with the Flow: Ocean Currents: Cause and Effect
02:45

Going with the Flow: Ocean Currents: Cause and Effect

In addition to their role in El Nino and other weather events, ocean currents are also important for delivering nutrients, especially along coastlines, and for facilitating the movement of planktonic organisms. Surface currents are influenced by sev...

Going with the Flow: El Nino
04:28

Going with the Flow: El Nino

El Nino is marked by the appearance from time to time of warm water in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. The end result of the evaporative process that follows is excessive rainfall.

Deep Connections: Tracers
07:03

Deep Connections: Tracers

A tracer is a property or substance that can be used to track the movement of individual water masses. While the utility of specific tracers varies according to the locale and circumstance, tracers as a group provide a rich source of information ab...

Deep Connections: Ocean Observation Systems
05:06

Deep Connections: Ocean Observation Systems

While tracers have proven immensely valuable as tools with which to monitor and analyze ocean circulation, the sheer size of the world ocean presents an enormous data-gathering challenge. Many oceanographers believe the solution lies in profiling sy...

Deep Connections: Water Masses
04:06

Deep Connections: Water Masses

Water masses are layers of water distinguished by a particular temperature and salinity. Understanding how water masses form and move around is critical in understanding global climate.