Summary
Explains how ocean currents work — driven by differences in water temperature and salinity — and why these enormous rivers in the ocean play a critical role in regulating Earth's climate.
Viewer safety
All ages
Common Sense Media — not yet ratedIMDb Parents Guide — not yet rated
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
- What two factors drive ocean currents?
- How do ocean currents affect the climate of coastal regions? Give a specific example.
- What is the 'global conveyor belt'? What keeps it moving?
- What might happen to Europe's climate if the Atlantic current slowed significantly?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: ocean current, temperature, salinity, density, conveyor belt, climate.
Try it: Fill a clear container with room-temperature water. Carefully add a drop of blue food coloring dissolved in cold water on one side and red food coloring dissolved in hot water on the other. Watch what happens — you are modeling density-driven currents.