What are the three types of geostrophic currents? What are their characteristics? Give at least one example of each type of current

Answer 1

· Western boundary currents are those that move warm water towards the pole. They are narrow currents with relatively defined boundaries. They are deep and move fast. There are 5 large western boundary currents, the Gulf Stream being the largest.
· Western boundary currents tend to be depleted of nutrients and have little or no upwelling events associated with them. This makes them relatively biologically unproductive.
· Eddies are commonly found in western boundary currents as well.
· Eastern boundary currents carry cold water towards the equator. They are shallow and broad with ill defined boundaries. These currents are slow moving.
· Although eddies tend not to form in eastern boundary currents like eastern boundary currents, there is coastal upwelling commonly associated with them.
· Transverse currents travel from east to west or vice versa. They are vital in connecting eastern and western boundary currents. These are a result from trade winds. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the transverse current which is the also largest of all ocean currents.
· Mid-latitude, eastern flowing currents are wider and flow slower compared to equatorial transverse currents. This is due to the influence of trade winds.