Ocean Currents and Circulation

Start with the bigger picture

Nutrients and the Ocean Conveyor is a useful starting point for studying circulation across ocean basins. This mind map describes how winds drive surface circulation and how cooling and sinking water contribute to movement. Use it to organize the main ideas before moving to resources that focus on particular currents or processes.

The Ocean currents mind map offers another route into the topic. You can compare it with the conveyor map and note any terms you want to explore further.

Move from maps to practice

After looking at the maps, try Wind Driven Circulation Quiz. Its focus makes it a way to practice the wind-driven side of the topic. You can also use the flashcard deck Wind Driven Circulation to go over that area alongside the quiz.

For a broader set of questions, Chapter 7 covers the Ekman spiral, equatorial currents and the movement of ocean water. Return to a mind map after the quiz and add your own notes about any terms you want to study again.

Explore diagrams and processes

The flowcharts Circulations and currents and Thermohaline circulation provide other ways to work through the topic. The page also lists notes on wind-driven coastal upwelling and a diagram flashcard deck with questions about upwelling, downwelling and Ekman flow. The diagram deck also asks about El Nino and La Nina conditions.

Use these resources alongside the maps and quizzes when you want to focus on a process or practice interpreting a diagram.

Place the topic in its unit

Ocean Currents and Circulation is a section of the Oceanography unit in Geology and earth sciences. The resources bring together circulation questions, diagrams and related oceanography material, so you can move between a focused process and the wider unit material listed here.

Choose a resource that fits your current study task and explore the collection at your own pace.