Major Ocean Surface Currents
Objective:
Investigate wind driven surface currents and prevailing winds by playing a card game.
Concepts:
Atmospheric cells and ocean gyres redistribute heat from low to high latitudes, which
influences climate, weather, and ocean temperature.
Surface currents are created by the prevailing wind system.
Materials:
- cards
- basin chart
- construction paper
- question
- glue
Procedures:
1. Cut out the wind driven ocean circulation cards.
2. Match the ocean current picture with the proper information.
3. Once you have completed this I will need to check to see if you have matched them
correctly
4. Glue the backs and corresponding fronts onto construction paper.
5. After the cards are dry, sort the cards into 4 groups by north or south and Atlantic or
Pacific.
6. Sort the cards into 4 groups by north or south and Atlantic or Pacific.
7. Students choose a group of cards to begin. Turn the cards over and examine the
information. On the Basin chart map all of the currents that are found on the cards
in red and blue. Red equaling a warm current and blue equaling a cold current.
8. Use what you have learned so far to pencil in the circulation pattern in the Indian
Ocean.
Analysis:
Use the information you have learned to answer the following questions:
1. In which direction do the ocean currents under the Trade Winds flow?
2. In which direction do ocean currents under the Prevailing Westerlies flow?
3. Wind driven ocean currents are deflected by continental boundaries to form
gyres. What is the one latitude where there is no continental barriers?
4. At what latitude are the ocean gyres centered?
5. In which direction do the gyres flow in the Northern Hemisphere? In the Southern
Hemisphere?
6. From which direction does the ocean gyre current flow near East Australia?
7. Warm water is transported toward the poles on which side of the ocean basins?
8. Cold water transported from the poles is on which side of the ocean basin?
9. What temperature is the ocean gyre current near the west coast of South
America?
10. In the North Indian Ocean why is there no permanent gyre?
11. Explain what you have learned in this lesson about the interaction of the Sun,
atmosphere, and ocean in creating surface circulation in the ocean.