Ocean Currents Lab

Ocean Currents Simulation – Surface & Deep Circulation

Ocean currents form a global conveyor belt that moves heat from the tropics toward the poles and redistributes nutrients throughout the world's oceans. This simulation separates the two main drivers—wind stress at the surface and density differences caused by temperature and salinity at depth—to show how they interact to form the full three-dimensional circulation. Manipulate wind patterns, sea-surface temperatures, and freshwater input to trace how current systems shift.

What you can do in this simulation

• Adjust prevailing wind direction and strength to generate gyres and observe Ekman transport and coastal upwelling
• Change sea-surface temperature and salinity to drive thermohaline overturning and track North Atlantic Deep Water formation
• Trace the path of the global thermohaline conveyor belt from the North Atlantic through deep ocean basins to the Pacific
• Introduce a freshwater pulse from glacier melt and observe its effect on conveyor belt strength
• Compare heat transport in warm western boundary currents like the Gulf Stream with cool eastern boundary currents

Concepts covered

thermohaline circulation · surface gyres · Ekman transport · upwelling · heat transport · deep-water formation

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