The world's oceans are in constant motion, and this series of maps published by the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio helps provide us with a nice illustration of this movement.
The maps, which were created at various times in past years, show the many warm and cold ocean currents responsible for transporting water across long distances throughout the world's oceans.
In addition to the ocean currents, you can also see swirly features, known as ocean eddies, on the maps. An ocean eddy is formed when currents sometimes pinch off into sections, creating the circular current. Sometimes significant eddies are given names, according to NOAA.
Below we have selected a few of the maps from NASA's collection, accompanied by a brief explanation of what you are seeing.
World Sea Surface Currents and Temperatures
In addition to a large-scale view of ocean circulations and eddies across the world, you can also see water temperatures in this image.
The orange and red shadings in the middle of the map correspond to the warmer waters in tropics. Cooler waters depicted in green and blue are located north and south of this as you head towards the poles.
Gulf Stream and Ocean Temperatures
These two maps show something that most of us have heard of: the Gulf Stream. This major current flows from off the coast of Florida to near the North Carolina coast, and then northeast from there into the north Atlantic. You can also see various eddies in the images.
NOAA says the Gulf Stream flows at an average speed of about four miles per hour, with a max speed of 5.6 miles per hour. It slows to one mile per hour on its north end.
The color shadings show the water temperatures from warm (orange) to cool (green or blue).
Cold California Current
Off the western coast of North America is the California Current.
This current brings cold waters southward along the U.S. West Coast to near Mexico's southern Baja California Peninsula. It's those cold waters that help play a role in dissipating many eastern Pacific hurricanes and tropical storms.
Kuroshio Current
This warm current moves northward near the coast of Japan, eventually dividing near a latitude of about 35 degrees north.
NOAA says a branch of it then flows east towards Hawaii, while a northern branch merges with the cold waters of the Oyashio Current to form the North Pacific Current.
Currents and Eddies Near the Southern Africa Coast
Pictured in this image are several well-defined eddies near the southern coast of Africa.
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