For a few years now, I have been hearing about these rubber ducks from China that fell off a boat in the Pacific Ocean 15 years ago and are still being carried all over the earth by the currents of the ocean.  This is very fascinating to us.  We have been looking at the currents of the oceans and plan to do some more experiments about the ocean currents this summer. 

In the meantime, we have found some interesting facts, books and websites to learn about the ocean currents.

 

First, you should know that ocean currents are caused by wind.  Seems fairly straightforward, but there are other things that affect the ocean currents.  The Coriolis Effect is how the wind curves based on the spin of the earth.  Naturally, land masses also play a role in the way the water swirls around the earth.

 

The ocean is broken into layers.  The surface layer is about 400 meters deep.  Naturally, these little duckies...as well as a great many other things...are carried on the surface water.  This surface water makes up only 10% of the oceans water.  Wow!

 

The ocean currents flow in different directions depending on which side of the equator you are on.  The northern hemisphere goes in a clockwise direction, while the southern hemisphere goes in a counter clockwise direction. 

 

 

One experiment we plan to do...is to send hard plastic Snapple bottles into the Chesapeake with notes inside.  Our hope is that people who find them will email us and let us know where they have been found so we can track a current pattern in the Bay.

 

This is a great book called “Tracking Trash”

And “Bill Nye’s Big Blue Ocean” are on our summer read list!

 

Also, read this about a strange place in our oceans where plastics collect.