An absence of heat transfer. In thermodynamics, adiabatic heating and cooling are processes that commonly occur due to changes in hydrostatic pressure. When a substance undergoes a pressure change, compression or expansion takes place, resulting in a temperature change. In an adiabatic system, the temperature change occurs without the addition or l [..]

A small sub-polar current in the Northeast Pacific, near the Gulf of Alaska. It rotates counterclockwise, with the dominant flow being the poleward-flowing Alaska Current.

The densest ocean water, formed primarily in Antarctica's Weddell Sea during Southern Hemisphere winters. The dense water sinks and forms a deep-water mass that flows north, eventually reaching all ocean basins.

Also called the ‘West Wind Drift’ because it is driven by powerful westerly winds north of Antarctica. This current continues eastward encircling Antarctica without changing direction. It is the largest volume current in all the oceans.

This current transports warm tropical waters from the Atlantic Ocean's North Equatorial Current near the Lesser Antilles towards the northwest. It is a significant source of warm water for the Florida Current and Gulf Stream system.

The poleward- or equatorward-flowing currents that form the western and eastern boundaries, respectively, of the subtropical circulation gyres. The east-west flowing currents that complete the gyres are called transverse currents.

A mixture of fresh and salty water that often appears brown in color. Characteristics of brackish water are heavily influenced by tides because salt levels typically increase with an incoming tide (flood tide) and decrease with an outgoing tide (ebb tide).

Water containing large amounts of salts. These waters are created in areas of strong evaporation, for example the Dead Sea, and in polar regions when salt is extruded from seawater that freezes.

The ability or tendency to float or rise in a liquid.

An eastern boundary current that flows along the west coast of Africa, towards the equator. It is the southwestward flow component of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Water from coastal upwelling is entrained as the Canary Current flows, thus relatively cool water is transported.