Part 1: Currents
Laying out these currents should be relatively easy. Let's use the Atlantic Ocean as an example. First, use your latitude markings as an example.
I would use a program like G-Projector to take a PNG of a map and place the latitude markings as such. For this tutorial, I marked the latitudes by 10s, instead of 15s. This is because it's easier to map the pressure systems that we will map later in the tutorial, but for now, the currents.
First, the equatorial currents.
Use your latitude markings in order to place warm currents around 5 degrees north and south, due to them being on the equator, which is hot and warm. Then draw a counter current around the equator, which will connect with the other two warm currents. Next, draw the warm currents along your landmasses up until 30 degrees.
Example 1: Atlantic Ocean
In addition, notice how the currents themselves are adjusting themselves to the landmasses, this will be important in a bit.
Next, take those currents that are on the 30 degree line, and draw those currents across your oceans. Once they hit a landmass, they should do so at around 30-45 degrees, and then you need to split the currents up. One of the currents will continue to be warm and extend to about 60 degrees, while cold currents will close the gyre downwards and join back up with the previous equatorial hot currents.
Example 2: Atlantic Ocean, again.
Also notice how the 60-degree warm currents drop down to cold currents once they hit a landmass and join back with the 30-degree currents, closing yet another gyre.
Another tip, if you have an open ocean at around 45-60 degrees, then a cold circumpolar current will span across the entire ocean. And of course, cold currents will close gyres, similar to before.
Example 3: Southern Ocean
And that should be it for the currents. If you complete the rest of your oceans, you should be done. Here’s Earth completed.
I hope this is useful to you, and if you have any criticisms, please say so. Next should be pressure and winds, see ya then.
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