What are ocean currents and where do they go?
Ocean's Secret Rivers
What are ocean currents and where do they go?
The ocean looks calm on top, but underneath? It's constantly moving, flowing in huge rivers that circle the entire planet. These are ocean currents — streams of water traveling thousands of miles, carrying warmth from the equator to the poles and cold water back the other way. They're like a giant conveyor belt that never stops.
Ocean currents start with the sun. The sun heats water near the equator until it's warm and light. That warm water spreads out toward the poles. Meanwhile, water near the Arctic and Antarctic gets cold and heavy, sinking down and flowing back toward the equator along the ocean floor. It's like a massive circle: warm water travels on top, cold water returns below.
