Do currents run from warm to cold or cold to warm areas?

Do currents run from warm to cold or cold to warm areas?

• A. Cold to Warm
• B. Warm to Cold
• C. Both
• D. Neither

Answer: (A)

Currents move water around the globe and in doing so transfer heat from warmer areas to cooler ones. On the surface, warm water tends to move toward higher latitudes, which would feel like warm-to-cold in terms of latitude. But a key part of the global ocean circulation is the deep, thermohaline flow, where cold, dense water forms in polar regions and travels toward warmer regions at depth. That deep movement brings cold water into regions that are relatively warmer, effectively moving water from cold to warm areas. So, when considering the major, long-scale circulation that redistributes heat over the planet, the direction that water mass can take is from cold toward warm areas. This heat redistribution explains why oceans can moderate climates and how the global conveyor belt links polar and equatorial regions.

Currents move water around the globe and in doing so transfer heat from warmer areas to cooler ones. On the surface, warm water tends to move toward higher latitudes, which would feel like warm-to-cold in terms of latitude. But a key part of the global ocean circulation is the deep, thermohaline flow, where cold, dense water forms in polar regions and travels toward warmer regions at depth. That deep movement brings cold water into regions that are relatively warmer, effectively moving water from cold to warm areas. So, when considering the major, long-scale circulation that redistributes heat over the planet, the direction that water mass can take is from cold toward warm areas. This heat redistribution explains why oceans can moderate climates and how the global conveyor belt links polar and equatorial regions.