Surface Ocean Currents

Ocean water moves as a result of the Earth’s atmospheric winds. Winds drive the water due to friction, as seen in the Ekman Spiral and Ekman Transport, and the rotation of Earth deflects these winds to the right or to the left depending on the hemisphere. This is called the Coriolis Effect. Land masses, such as continents, interrupt water flow to cause five ocean circular gyres.

There is one current, the West Wind Drift, that does not encounter an interruptive land mass; therefore, the current is able to flow around the world. Other such currents, such as counter currents, monsoon currents, and undercurrents help move water from place to place

Ocean currents are important because they distribute warm or cold water, and water temperature greatly influences the climate of land. All in all, air and the sea are connected. If the wind stops or reverses, climatic phenomenon such as El Niño and the Southern Oscillation can take place, followed by a La Niña pattern.