A vortex is a spinning, often turbulent, flow of air or water. The term can be used to describe a variety of phenomena, including the POLAR GYRE, WHIRL, MAELSTROM, SWIRL, EDDY, WHIRLPOOL, TORNADO, and WHIRLWIND. Each of these terms describes a different type of vortex, with varying degrees of intensity and speed. POLAR gyres are large-scale circular ocean currents, while whirls are smaller, more localized vortices. Maelstroms are powerful, swirling ocean currents, and swirls are small, localized vortices. Eddies are small, rotating currents of air or water, and whirlpools are large, powerful vortices. Tornadoes are violent, rotating columns of air, and whirlwinds are strong, rotating winds.