qCurrents are in geostropic balance
qEach gyre includes 4 current
components:
q
two boundary currents: western and eastern
q
two transverse currents: easteward and westward
qWestern boundary current (jet stream of ocean)
q
the fast, deep, and narrow current moves warm water
polarward (transport ~50 Sv or
greater)
qEastern boundary current
q
the slow, shallow, and broad current moves cold water equatorward (transport ~ 10-15 Sv)
qTrade wind-driven current
q
the moderately shallow and broad westward current (transport ~ 30 Sv)
qWesterly-driven current
q
the wider and slower (than the trade wind-driven current) eastward current