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Living Planet: Ocean Gyres Explained

Living Planet: Ocean Gyres Explained

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on January 18, 2015

Ocean gyres exist in every ocean in the world. They are the large, rotating currents which circulate water around different parts of the oceans. There are five major ocean gyres. Two are north of the equator, spanning the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. The other three are south of the equator; one spans the South Pacific and the other spans the South Atlantic ocean, while the fifth ocean gyre is in the Indian Ocean between western Australia and eastern Africa.

Gyres are formed in the ocean by the Earth’s rotation, as well as worldwide wind patterns. These currents are responsible for redistributing heat and cooling throughout the oceans, as well as breaking up salinity concentration and ensuring nutrient distribution. The circulation of the water in a large rotating pattern assures ocean water will move between the major continents. This movement brings warmer tropical water into the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the planet and moves cold water to tropical zones. Nutrients and salinity are affected in the same way.

Coriolis force, created by the turning of the Earth, deflects ocean water at both the surface and below the surface. Winds push water as well and are responsible for creating the surface currents which are affected by the Coriolis force. Landmasses also affect these giant ocean currents by creating the boundaries of the water currents.

There are smaller ocean gyres in the areas north and south of the major land masses. These are Arctic and Antarctic ocean gyres. These currents operate in the same way as the major gyres in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Along the equator there are also gyres which are more linear than circular due to lack of Coriolis force. Much smaller, localized gyres happen in smaller areas throughout the ocean.

Gyres are an essential part of the Earth’s ecosystem. These currents ensure nutrients and salinity are kept moving equally throughout the oceans. Nutrient distribution is important to feeding the ocean’s teeming masses of life. The currents also redistribute heat throughout the oceans in order to stabilize the warming and cooling of the equatorial areas as well as each of the poles.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro