Major Ocean Currents on Earth

Psalm 8:6-8: “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”

Ocean currents, also known as “sea currents,” refer to the large-scale, relatively stable, year-round movements of surface seawater in the world’s oceans, flowing in a specific direction. The primary energy source for these large-scale movements is solar radiation. Because solar radiation is unevenly distributed across the Earth’s surface, it causes global atmospheric circulation. The prevailing westerlies and low-latitude trade winds are the main drivers of large-scale ocean movements. Warm currents flow from low to mid-to-high latitudes, with water temperatures higher than the surrounding water. Cold currents flow from high to mid-to-high latitudes, with water temperatures lower than the surrounding water.

Most ancient peoples believed that the ocean was a stagnant, enclosed body of water. While some sailors did utilize currents like the Kuroshio for navigation, it wasn’t until the 16th century that anyone began to study ocean currents scientifically. Yet, David, in the 10th century BC, wrote: “all that swim the paths of the seas” (Psalm 8:8).

The American scientist Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873), known as the “Pathfinder of the Seas,” found his inspiration for discovering ocean navigation paths in Psalm 8:8, Psalm 107:23-24, and Ecclesiastes 1:6. He proposed the optimal transatlantic shipping routes. The navigation charts, ocean maps, and wind field charts he created significantly reduced travel time from the United States to Europe and decreased the chance of encountering severe weather.