Now let's talk about what "drives" the Gulf Stream, and subsequently, circulation throughout the oceans.

1. Describe the ocean current cycles in terms of temperature, evaporation, and salinity.

2. What is the role of the Coriolis Effect and gyres in the movement of the Gulf Stream?

Answer: 1. An ocean current is a continuous, horizontal water movement of sea water produced by temperature, salinity differences and some other forces acting upon the water, including wind etc.

2. The Coriolis effect acting on these currents causes northern hemisphere gyres to move in a clockwise direction and southern hemisphere gyres to move in a counterclockwise direction.

Explanation: Deep ocean is driven by density differences in the water which is known as thermohaline circulation because water density depends on its temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline).

In the ocean, warmer water expands just like any other matter, and makes it to rise to the top of the ocean. The cooler water, which is more dense than the warm water, sinks to the bottom and takes up the space left by the rising warm water and which salt and other molecules (e. g., calcium) can fit.

The higher the salinity of ocean water, the denser it becomes. When the salinity is high enough, the water will sink, starting a convection current.

Evaporation increases salinity and consequently makes the water become denser.

2. Because of the Coriolis force, surface water is deflected toward the interior of the gyres (to the right in the north, to the left in the south). The gyre motion piles up water in its centre as a fat lense and cold water is preferentially displaced downward.