Skip to main content

How do ocean currents work? - Jennifer Verduin

2,765,129 Views

41,036 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

In 1992, a cargo ship carrying bath toys got caught in a storm. Shipping containers washed overboard, and the waves swept 28,000 rubber ducks and other toys into the North Pacific. But they didn’t stick together -- the ducks have since washed up all over the world. How did this happen? Jennifer Verduin dives into the science of ocean currents.

WatchThink Dig Deeper Discuss

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Here is a basic guide to how ocean currents work around the world. 

Smithsonian has a great video and other resources on ocean currents here. 

Here is a resource from Yale Environment 360 on how climate change is affecting ocean currents.

Next Section »

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Jennifer Verduin
  • Director Mateus Contini, Felipe Grosso, Odirlei Seixas
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Art Director Ricke Ito, Felipe Grosso, Odirlei Seixas
  • Illustrator Ricke Ito
  • Storyboard Artist Felipe Grosso, Odirlei Seixas
  • Character Designer Ricke Ito
  • Animator Carlon Hardt, Kelvin Lima
  • Producer Felipe Grosso, Odirlei Seixas, Liana Vianna
  • Compositor Mateus Contini
  • Editor Mateus Contini
  • Composer Matheus Wittmann
  • Sound Designer Matheus Wittmann
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Fact-Checker Francisco Diez

More from Awesome Nature