Ocean currents are critical to life on Earth. These continuous flows of seawater both regulate the global climate and propel nutrients and organisms across the oceans. On the surface, ocean currents are driven by winds and the Coriolis effect. At greater depths, water temperatures and salinity influence currents in a process known as thermohaline circulation. Together, surface and deepwater currents form the “global conveyor belt,” which circulates seawater over a 1,000-year journey.
This animated map from NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS) highlights ocean currents at different depths. It’s based on the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) model from 2021 to 2023.
The 3D map ripples with activity as currents flow and meander throughout the oceans. Currents on the surface appear as white lines while deepwater currents draw in shades of blue. The velocity of the lines reflects the speed of the currents—currents on the surface generally move faster than those in deeper water. As Earth rotates, you can see how the shape of continents influences current flows.
The map then highlights significant currents such as the Kuroshio current near Japan. As the map zooms in, it tilts to reveal the 3D bathymetry of the ocean floor. You can also see eddies, or circular currents, that can form when water breaks away from larger currents. In the map, eddies are prevalent around the southern edge of Africa and off the eastern coast of the US.
You can also see places where eddies and currents move in opposite directions at different depths. While the Gulf Stream pushes water north up the US coast from the Caribbean, you can see deeper currents cycling water back southward. And off the coast of Africa, you can see eddies rotate counterclockwise at the surface, while they spin in a clockwise direction at greater depths.
This enthralling map is mesmerizing to watch, but it also serves a greater purpose. It helps scientists understand how currents move water—and therefore heat and salinity—around our oceans. It also provides a baseline for understanding future changes as concerns rise about how climate change could alter some currents.
More to Explore
- Revisit an atlas that highlights eight different dimensions of the oceans.
- Learn more about the tidal forces that also move oceans.
