Re: What causes surface currents on the ocean?

Hi Sandra,

Surface Ocean currents are caused by the greater heating of the ocean and
atmosphere at the equator
than at the earth's poles.  Warm air (and warm water) rises while colder air
(and water) sinks.
This movement coupled with the spin of the earth causes air to move around, 
and
generally cause warm
air to move toward the poles and back again in a circuitous path.  The wind
blowing across the water
is the biggest factor driving the ocean currents.  You can see the effects 
of
wind driving the ocean
during storms when the wind can drive high tides way up on the shore, ofter
flooding homes along the
shore.  This is called a storm surge.

The process of heat transportation by the movment of fluids is called
convection.  Thus the winds
and ocean currents are, for the most part, convection currents.  The water 
would convect heat
without the wind, but the wind is mostly responsible for the ocean currents.

Hope this helps,
Les Uhrich