Today we are going to learn about the ocean currents. Discuss the following ocean facts along with the hands-on activities. Currents are large moving rivers of water in the ocean. These movements of ocean water are in a particular direction. Oceans are in continual motion due to the spinning of the earth, the gravitational attraction of the moon, surface winds, and heating by the sun.
Ocean currents occur on and below the ocean surface.
Ocean currents on the surface are basically caused by winds. Deep ocean currents are caused by the uneven heating of ocean water by the sun. Uneven heating of ocean water also causes some areas to have a higher salt content, causing a circular current. There are three different kinds of currents, depending on their origin. Tidal currents - produced by the ebb and flow of tides 6.