Name___________________________________Date_______________Hour_____
Earth Science………………Miss Hall…………Unit #9: Oceans and Climate
Ocean Currents Activity
PURPOSE: To identify the movement of major ocean currents, and observe the relationship between
surface ocean currents and winds.
MATERIALS:
Surface Ocean Current Map
Prevailing Winds Map
Colored Pencils and a sharp regular pencil
PROCEDURE/DATA/ANALYSIS/CONCLUSIONS: Answer in complete sentences!
1. What is the definition of an ocean current?______________________________________
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2. Using the Surface Ocean Current map, locate each of the ocean currents listed in the Data Table. For
each current listed, name the ocean basin in which each current occurs, indicate whether the
current is located on the east or west side of the ocean basin, identify whether the current is
warm or cold, and determine whether the current is flowing toward or away from the equator.
The first one is completed as an example.
Data Table
Name of Current
Gulf Stream
California
Ocean Basin
Location in
Ocean Basin
Atlantic
west
General
Temperature
Flow Direction
Relative to
Equator
warm
away
Canary
Peru
Brazil
Kuroshio
W. Australia
E. Australia
Benguela
Agulhas
3. Based the information in the table, what is the relationship between the temperature of the ocean
currents and the direction of current flow relative to the equator? Explain why this relationship
occurs. ______________________________________________________________________
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4. On what side of the ocean basin do cold currents flow?
5. On what side of the ocean basin do warm currents flow?
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east / west (circle one)
east / west (circle one)
6. What is the relationship between current temperature and the side of the ocean on which that
current flows? Use complete sentences!______________________________________________
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7. Lay a sheet of tracing paper over the Surface Ocean Currents map so that it completely covers the
western half of the map. With a sharp pencil, trace as much of the map border and equator as possible.
Using a red colored pencil, trace the arrows showing the direction of the North Equatorial current in
the Pacific Ocean. In what compass direction do the arrows point? ___________________
8. Move the tracing paper to the Prevailing World Winds map and align the map border and equator. With
a purple colored pencil, trace the arrows representing the Northeast Trades in the Pacific Ocean. In
what compass direction do these arrows point? (NOTE: the winds are named for the direction FROM
which they blow). ___________________
9. Turn your tracing paper so that the arrows for the Northeast Trades are, in general, pointing away
from you. Do the arrows for the North Equatorial current point to your left or to your right? _______
10. Based upon your previous answer, what is the general relationship between ocean current direction and
the winds that cause them in the Northern Hemisphere? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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11. Once again, align your tracing paper with the Surface Ocean currents map and trace the South
Equatorial arrows in the Pacific Ocean with a red colored pencil. In what compass direction do the
arrows point? ___________
12. Move the tracing paper to the Prevailing World Winds map and trace the Southeast Trade wind arrows
in the Pacific Ocean using a purple colored pencil. In what compass direction do the arrows point?
___________________
13. Turn your tracing paper so that the arrows for the Southeast Trades are, in general, pointing away
from you. Do the arrows for the South Equatorial current point to your left or to your right? _______
14. Based upon your previous answer, what is the general relationship between ocean current direction and
the winds that cause them in the Southern Hemisphere? __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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15. Compare the directions (clockwise or counterclockwise) of the major circulation patterns in the oceans
of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. USE COMPLETE SENTENCES____________________
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16. What is the general relationship between current temperature and direction of flow along the east
coast of the continents? __________________________________________________________
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17. What is the general relationship between current temperature and direction of flow along the west
coast of the continents? __________________________________________________________
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18. Which current flows around the Earth without interruption by land and where does it flow?
____________________________________________________________________________
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19. What is the driving force behind surface currents? _____________________________________
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20. Based on your data, what is the relationship between the temperature of the ocean current and the
direction of current flow relative to the equator? Explain why this relationship occurs (include Coriolis
effect, temperature and density). __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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Surface Ocean Currents
Prevailing World Winds
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