1. What are Ocean Gyres? SC.912.E.7.2
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2. Ocean Surface Currents
Large-scale ocean surface currents are driven by wind systems that get their energy from the Sun.
Surface currents transfer heat from the tropic regions toward the poles.
This transfer of heat is what drives Earth’s climate patterns.
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3. Kes47, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Due to the Coriolis Effect, these currents are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kes47, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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4. Ocean Gyres
Ocean gyres are large systems of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and the Coriolis Effect.
There are five major ocean gyres, one in each major ocean basin.
The circulation in these gyres is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
These circulation patterns carry warm water from the Equator and cold water from the poles.
More information about ocean gyres can be found at:
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5. Ocean Basin Handout
Based on what you have seen so far, fill in your world map by marking the five major ocean gyres. Use colored pencils to mark the warm currents in red and the cold currents in blue.
Hand out the blank ocean basin charts and have students place the ocean gyres where they think they are. When you think students are ready, move on to the next slide. You may need extra maps in case students need to make a second map.
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6. Ocean Currents
Click on the link below to display the map:
At this point have students correct their maps.
You can also cut and paste this link into your bowser to get the map
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