Ocean gyres are large-scale, roughly circular current systems present in each major ocean basin (e.g., North Atlantic Gyre, North Pacific Gyre). Their circular/looping structure arises from the interaction of wind-driven surface currents with the Coriolis effect, which deflects moving water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, curving the flow into closed loops.
Wind stress from the prevailing global wind belts (trade winds, westerlies) drives surface ocean currents, but the Coriolis effect — arising from Earth's rotation —...
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