D4.3.5—Ocean current changes
Ocean warming can alter circulating currents and reduce nutrient upwelling, lowering primary productivity and food supply near the surface waters.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- D4.3.5
- Level
- HL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing2%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2025
Most common paperPaper1
Typical marks1
Recent exam appearances
May 2025Paper1A ["HL"] · TZ240[ 1 ]D4.3.5—Ocean current changes
May 2022Paper1 ["HL"] · TZ116[ 1 ]D4.3.5—Ocean current changes
Practice this objective
Coverage 2022–2025 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Warmer surface water can strengthen stratification and reduce vertical mixing.
- Reduced upwelling limits nutrients available to surface phytoplankton.
- Changes in ocean currents can alter productivity and marine food-web support.