This is Steve, and he is a physical oceanographer. 

Physical oceanographers like Steve, study the ocean itself, currents, and waves. 

Today, Steve is going to teach us about currents! 

Ocean currents are a continuous movement of water. Currents move the energy from areas of hot water, to areas of cold water, and from areas of cold water, to areas of hot water. 

This impacts the temperature of Earth! Water retains heat longer than land. Places near the water have temperatures that are more tolerable and pleasant than those that aren't. 

Winds that blow over the water create waves, and surface currents. Surface currents are impacted by wind, the rotation of the earth, and the shape of ocean basins. 

You might have heard of a rip currents, is a surface current that is very strong, as it is returning to the ocean from the shore.

Remember to swim parallel to shore if you get caught in one! 

The Earth's rotation also influences ocean surface currents. 

This rotation, the "Coriolis Effect", causes winds and ocean currents to form in circular patterns.

The direction that they spin, depends on the hemisphere that they are in.