convection

the movement caused within a fluid or gas by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise, and colder, denser material to sink under the influence of gravity, which consequently results in transfer of heat

"convection" refers to up and down motions of air or liquid

convection in the atmosphere

heat gained by the lowest layer of the atmosphere from radiation or conduction is most often transferred by convection

convective motions in the atmosphere are responsible for the movement of heat from the warm equatorial regions to higher latitudes and from the surface upward

land breezes

a breeze blowing toward the sea from the land, especially at night, owing to the relative warmth of the sea

sea breezes

a breeze blowing toward the land from the sea, especially during the day, owing to the relative warmth of the land

ocean current

ocean current is any continuous, directed movement of ocean water that flows in one of the Earth's oceans

the currents are generated from the forces acting upon the water like the earth's rotation, the wind, the temperature and salinity differences and the gravitation of the moon

currents are generated from the forces acting upon the water like the earth's rotation, the wind, the temperature and salinity differences and the gravitation of the moon

types of ocean currents

there are two types of ocean currents, surface currents and deep currents

surface currents

winds are able to move the top 400 meters of the ocean creating surface ocean currents

surface ocean currents form large circular patterns called gyres, gyres flow clockwise in Northern Hemisphere oceans and counterclockwise in Southern Hemisphere oceans because of the Coriolis Effect

warm currents flow away from tropical areas (Equator) Cool currents flow away from cold areas (Poles)

deep ocean currents

deep ocean currents are driven by density and temperature differences

warm currents move towards surface and cool currents move towards ocean floor

thermohaline circulation is also known as the ocean's conveyor belt (which refers to deep ocean density driven ocean basin currents). These currents, called submarine rivers, flow under the surface of the ocean and are hidden from immediate detection