How might ocean currents have differed during the time of Pangaea compared to today?

Question

blues · Answer

Ocean currents are determined by a number of factors. Water flows around the continents so when the continents were in different positions relative to each other than they are today, plainly water flowed in different patterns. Also, ocean currents are very sensitive to temperature, both of the water near them (i.e., above and below as well as adjacent to them) and to the temperature, pressure and surface conditions (i.e., wind) of the atmosphere around it. Hence all the current interest in so called 'mixed' climate models that take into affect both atmospheric effects and water effects in studying climate change...