Science Common Sense

1569 - Why are surface ocean currents affected by prevailing winds.

Prevailing winds affect surface ocean currents because when the wind blows over the ocean, it makes the water on the surface move in the same direction. This happens because of a thing called friction.

Imagine you're blowing on the surface of a puddle of water. The water will start moving in the same direction the wind is blowing. The same thing happens in the ocean. As the wind keeps blowing, it keeps making the water move, and that creates a current.

These currents are called surface ocean currents, and they play a big role in helping move warm and cool water around the world, which affects the weather and the climate in different places.