Even though the ocean is constantly in motion and there are lots of factors that affect how the ocean water moves, there is one natural phenomenon that has been contributing to ocean water movement for thousands of years: one large ocean current that connects all ocean basins, as well as the ocean surface and the deep ocean. This current is sometimes called the global conveyor belt, for the way it circulates water all around the globe. If water could be tracked on its journey on the global conveyor belt, following the red path as warm water nears the surface, then cools and sinks to follow the blue path until it comes back to the surface again, we would find that it takes the water around 1,000 years to complete its travel all the way around the world.
An obvious first guess as to what might cause this motion in the ocean is the wind. Wind blows over the ocean's surface, causing both waves and movement of water in a downwind direction. And indeed, parts of the global conveyor belt are driven by the wind .

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