OCEAN CURRENT

ocean current: translation

large-scale movement of water within the oceans. Two kinds: warm ocean current -runs near the surface from tropical areas to higher latitudes. cold ocean current -runs deep along the ocean floor from higher latitudes to tropical areas.

Ocean currents are an important mechanism in the earth's heat transfer system from surplus areas to deficit areas. They have a profound influence on climate, making coastal areas near to warm currents far milder and wetter than their latitudinal position suggests they should be.