Temperatures

• The Gulf Stream is a current in the Atlantic ocean that supplies warm water along the coast of eastern North America to Newfoundland. As the Gulf Stream transports water to the North, the warm water experiences cooling, evaporating in the atmosphere. This current produces an effect on weather and temperature for these areas. In Florida, the Gulf Stream aids in keeping Florida warmer during winter months because of its constant flow of water. As the Gulf Stream becomes the North Atlantic Current, the coasts of Ireland and Great Britain also experience temperatures higher than Eastern areas during winter months.
  
  

Hurricanes

• Currents also have effects on weather, such as producing cyclones. The Gulf Stream often aids in the creation of hurricanes, starting off with a tropical storm, but as the current churns warm water, stronger cyclones develop. As the current moves, the cyclones travel with the Gulf Stream, which is why a hurricane that started in the southeast Atlantic Ocean can travel up to the coast of New York, and further. Other storms move into the Gulf of Mexico, which leads to cyclones such as "Katrina," a hurricane that swept over the southeast coast of United States in 2005, causing significant damage to Louisiana and Mississippi.
  
  

Transport

• Currents also produce an effect on water transportation. Before steam-powered engines, ocean currents greatly affected travel. In the 15th century, the Agulhas current near Portugal prevented sailors from creating a trading route with India due to the deadly nature of sailing on the fast current. Knowing how to use surface ocean currents helps reduce the cost of shipping, as less fuel is necessary for a boat that runs with the current. Sailors around the world must also know the direction and movement of currents to travel over the ocean.
  
  

Marine Debris

• When ships overturn due to a storm or error, debris litters the ocean, and currents pick up the trash and move it all over the world. For example, in 1992, a storm caused thousands of rubber ducks to spill off a ship in the Pacific Ocean. The toys began showing up in other parts of the world. Oceanographers use marine debris to track current flows around the world. Runoff from storm drains and trash blown off landfills are also carried away by ocean currents.