Ocean Surface Currents

Compiled by Jen Millner at Montana State University

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Examine global surface currents ( This site may be offline. ) This site animates cold and warm surface ocean currents. While it is true that wind does play a role in the direction of surface currents, temperature and salinity variations also drive ocean currents. Note that currents flowing toward the equator are generally cool and currents flowing away from the equator usually are warm.