Ocean dynamics

The continuous motion of water is a major characteristic of the World Ocean. Water-mass movement in horizontal and vertical directions forms the general system of Ocean circulation. Deposition, evaporation, coastal drainage, horizontal non-uniformity of water density, tides, wind and atmospheric pressure are all related to a number of factors which cause a transitional motion of Ocean waters. With the origin of motion, there is a declining force of rotation of the Earth (Coriolis effect), which inclines the forced weight of water to the right in the Northern hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. Circulation of surface waters is now one of the most investigated topics. Circulation represents a rotational system around a fixed geographical point. Each rotation permits the interconnected currents to widen, and increases the speed and volume, thereby mixing the waters.

1. Cold currents; 2. Warm currents; Speed of currents in m/sec: 3. <0.25; 4="" 025-050="" 5="">0.5.

Map from the Man and the Ocean, a CD-ROM produced by the Russian Head Department of Navigation and Oceanography