Experiments are also carried out to compare the marine life within the current and outside in surrounding waters, to determine if there is any difference. The chemistry-related fields of oceanography involve the experimental study of the composition of ocean water.
有時候它彎彎曲曲地流，這種「蛇形運動」能不能預測？相關的問題還包括水溫不同，群集的生物和附近有什麼差別；流速和範圍對船隻航行的影響等等。