Ocean Currents Worksheet
Arrows show which way each current flows. Students name the 11 numbered currents, say whether each one is warm or cold, and name the 5 lettered gyres and which way they turn. Turn on "Show answer key" to print the names.
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About this sheet
- Grade band: Grades 6 to 8 (ages 11 to 14), our estimate. It also works for a high school review.
- License: free for classroom use. Print as many copies as you need.
- Data: current paths traced from the NOAA Ocean Service gyre figure, public domain. Land from Natural Earth, public domain.
- PDF: use "Print or save as PDF" and pick "Save as PDF" in the print dialog. The page prints in landscape with only the map.
Answer key
| Mark | Name | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulf Stream | warm |
| 2 | Canary Current | cold |
| 3 | Labrador Current | cold |
| 4 | Brazil Current | warm |
| 5 | Benguela Current | cold |
| 6 | Kuroshio Current | warm |
| 7 | California Current | cold |
| 8 | Peru Current | cold |
| 9 | East Australian Current | warm |
| 10 | Agulhas Current | warm |
| 11 | Antarctic Circumpolar Current | cold |
| A | North Atlantic Gyre | turns clockwise |
| B | South Atlantic Gyre | turns counterclockwise |
| C | North Pacific Gyre | turns clockwise |
| D | South Pacific Gyre | turns counterclockwise |
| E | Indian Ocean Gyre | turns counterclockwise |