The Sverdrup Hypothesis

The Sverdrup Hypothesis explains how large-scale ocean currents are driven by the balance between wind patterns and the Earth's rotation. Essentially, it states that the volume of water moving poleward (toward the poles) in the ocean's surface layers is mainly controlled by the west-to-east wind flow across the Earth’s surface. When these winds blow consistently in one direction, they create a tilt in the ocean's water levels, causing currents to develop. The Earth's rotation then deflects these currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, shaping major climate-influencing ocean circulation patterns.