Ocean currents worksheet with a world map and questions about surface currents and their effects.

Let’s go step by step through each part of the worksheet.

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Lesson Review: True or False?

We need to check each statement. If it’s false, we change the underlined word to make it true.

1. Most surface currents are caused by winds.
→ This is TRUE. Winds push water and create surface currents.
✔ Answer: true

2. Winds near the equator blow mainly from east to north.
→ Actually, trade winds near the equator blow from east to west, not east to north.
✘ So we change “north” → west
✔ Answer: false — change “north” to “west”

3. In the Southern Hemisphere, winds blow from the southwest.
→ In the Southern Hemisphere, prevailing westerlies blow from the northwest, not southwest. (Think: Coriolis effect turns them left.)
✘ Change “southwest” → northwest
✔ Answer: false — change “southwest” to “northwest”

4. Surface currents move counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
→ No! In the Northern Hemisphere, large ocean gyres move clockwise due to Coriolis effect.
✘ Change “counterclockwise” → clockwise
✔ Answer: false — change “counterclockwise” to “clockwise”

5. Surface currents move clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
→ Opposite! In the Southern Hemisphere, they move counterclockwise.
✘ Change “clockwise” → counterclockwise
✔ Answer: false — change “clockwise” to “counterclockwise”

6. Currents flowing from areas near the equator are cold.
→ Equator = hot sun → warm water. Currents from there are warm.
✘ Change “cold” → warm
✔ Answer: false — change “cold” to “warm”

7. Currents coming from areas near the poles are warm.
→ Poles = icy → cold water. These currents are cold.
✘ Change “warm” → cold
✔ Answer: false — change “warm” to “cold”

8. Ocean currents that move up and down are called surface currents.
→ Surface currents move horizontally. Up/down movements are vertical currents or part of thermohaline circulation.
✘ Change “surface currents” → vertical currents (or “deep-ocean currents”)
✔ Answer: false — change “surface currents” to “vertical currents”

*(Note: Some textbooks say “density currents” or “thermohaline currents” for vertical movement — but “vertical currents” is simplest for this level.)*

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Skill Challenge: Use the map

Look at the map provided (we can see Gulf Stream going from Gulf of Mexico toward Europe, passing England; Peru current along South America west coast; Brazil current on east coast; Benguela off Africa west coast; Kuroshio near Japan).

1. Is the Gulf Stream a warm current or a cold current? How do you know?
→ The Gulf Stream starts near the equator/Gulf of Mexico (warm area) and flows northeast toward Europe. Warm currents come from tropics. Also, it warms places like England.
✔ Answer: Warm current. It comes from near the equator where water is heated by the sun.

2. How does the Gulf Stream affect the weather in England? Explain your answer.
→ Since it carries warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes, it makes England warmer than other places at the same latitude (like Canada). Without it, England would be much colder.
✔ Answer: It brings warm water to England, making its climate milder and warmer than other regions at the same latitude.

3. If you tossed a bottle into the Pacific Ocean from the west coast of North America, which two currents would carry it toward Japan?
→ From west coast of NA: first, the California Current goes south… wait, no — actually, if you toss it off California, it might get caught in the North Pacific Current going west, then turn north via the Kuroshio Current toward Japan. But looking at the map:
From west coast of North America → the North Pacific Current (not labeled, but implied between California Current and Kuroshio) moves west across Pacific → then hits Asia and turns north as the Kuroshio Current toward Japan.
But since only named currents are shown:
Actually, from the map:
- Bottle dropped off West Coast → likely caught in California Current going SOUTH... that’s wrong direction.
Wait — let’s think again.
The major loop in North Pacific:
Starts with Kuroshio (Japan) → goes east as North Pacific Current → hits North America → splits: some go north (Alaska), some go south as California Current.
So to go FROM North America TO Japan:
You’d need to go WEST across Pacific → so you’d ride the North Pacific Current (which isn’t labeled, but is between California Current and Kuroshio). Then when it reaches Asia, it becomes the Kuroshio Current heading north to Japan.
But since the question says “which two currents”, and based on typical curriculum:
Answer is usually: North Pacific Current and Kuroshio Current.
Even though “North Pacific Current” isn’t labeled on this map, it’s the unnamed current connecting California Current to Kuroshio. Alternatively, maybe they expect:
From map arrows: After leaving North America, water goes west — that’s the transpacific flow — then turns north along Asia as Kuroshio.
Since “North Pacific Current” is standard term, we’ll use it.
✔ Answer: North Pacific Current and Kuroshio Current

*(Note: If teacher expects only labeled currents, this might be tricky — but logically, those are the two.)*

4. How does the Benguela current affect the climate of western Africa? Explain your answer.
→ Look at map: Benguela Current runs along west coast of southern Africa, flowing NORTH from Antarctic/polar regions → so it’s a COLD current. Cold currents cool the air above them → less evaporation → drier climate. That’s why Namibia/Angola have deserts (Namib Desert).
✔ Answer: The Benguela Current is cold, so it cools the air over western Africa, reducing rainfall and creating dry, desert-like conditions.

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Now, compiling all answers clearly:

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Final Answer:

Lesson Review:

1. true
2. false — change “north” to “west”
3. false — change “southwest” to “northwest”
4. false — change “counterclockwise” to “clockwise”
5. false — change “clockwise” to “counterclockwise”
6. false — change “cold” to “warm”
7. false — change “warm” to “cold”
8. false — change “surface currents” to “vertical currents”

Skill Challenge:

1. Warm current. It comes from near the equator where water is heated by the sun.
2. It brings warm water to England, making its climate milder and warmer than other regions at the same latitude.
3. North Pacific Current and Kuroshio Current
4. The Benguela Current is cold, so it cools the air over western Africa, reducing rainfall and creating dry, desert-like conditions.