Question
Describe the classification of ocean currents based on their depth.
Solution
The ocean currents is classified based on their depth as surface currents and deep water currents:
(i) surface currents constitute about 10 percent of all the water in the ocean, these waters are the upper 400 m of the ocean;
(ii) deep water currents make up the other 90 per cent of the ocean water. These waters move around the ocean basins due to variations in the density and gravity. Deep waters sink into the deep ocean basins at high latitudes, where the temperatures are cold enough to cause the density to increase.
