Ocean Current Skip to content ut Ocean Blue Project Donate Now Ocean Currents Map Why are Ocean Currents Important? Types of Ocean Currents So, what causes the ocean’s currents? Ocean currents are driven by tides, winds, or changes in the water’s density. There are two different types of ocean currents: surface currents and deep ocean currents. Together they create a complex system that affects our weather, marine travel, and oceanic ecosystems. 1 Surface Currents 2 Deep Ocean Currents 3 Tidal Currents Ocean Currents of The World The Great Pacific Garbage Patch This collection of litter (composed mostly of tiny pieces of plastic) is located in the North Pacific. The trash is collecting in the calm center of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. A gyre is a large system of swirling ocean currents. The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre is made of four separate currents: the California current, the North Equatorial current, the Kuroshio current, and the North Pacific current. These four curre