What term describes the large, looped systems of surface currents in Earth's oceans?

What term describes the large, looped systems of surface currents in Earth's oceans?

• A. Gyres
• B. Eddies
• C. Currents
• D. Ridges

Answer: (A)

Gyres describe the large, looped systems of surface currents in Earth's oceans. They form when prevailing winds push surface water and the Coriolis effect bends that flow into circular patterns. In the Northern Hemisphere, these circulations rotate clockwise; in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate counterclockwise. This wind-driven, rotating pattern helps move heat from the equator toward higher latitudes, shaping regional climates—for example, the Gulf Stream is part of the North Atlantic Gyre. Eddies are smaller, localized swirls within a current. Currents is a general term for any flow of water, not necessarily looped. Ridges are underwater topographic features, not circulation patterns.

Gyres describe the large, looped systems of surface currents in Earth's oceans. They form when prevailing winds push surface water and the Coriolis effect bends that flow into circular patterns. In the Northern Hemisphere, these circulations rotate clockwise; in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate counterclockwise. This wind-driven, rotating pattern helps move heat from the equator toward higher latitudes, shaping regional climates—for example, the Gulf Stream is part of the North Atlantic Gyre. Eddies are smaller, localized swirls within a current. Currents is a general term for any flow of water, not necessarily looped. Ridges are underwater topographic features, not circulation patterns.