How do currents affect the world's climate?

[Gzup]

How do currents affect the world's climate?

[jake-the-peg]

They move heat about from tropical regions to more cooler regions.

The Gulf stream is a good example. Hot water from the Gulf of mexico travells across the Atlantic to Northern Europe. Draw a line between Britain and the US and yoou'll find that we're at the same latitude as Newfoundland in Canada. The reason we're much warmer than that is the Gulf stream.

Have a look here:

http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Climate/Older/Gulf_Stream.html

[fo3nix]

What sort of currents in particular? A current really is just a fancy word for movement. Do you mean air current, water current, etc.?

[qapmoc]

Well Jake, your description is correct but you had better hope that predictions such as this about the gulf-stream slowing down are not liable to happen any time soon. It would get a bit cool around the ''whatsits'' in the UK if that happens.