what are surface currents

Surface currents are ocean currents that flow on the oceans surface and are driven by global wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. These currents can flow for thousands of kilometers and can reach depths of hundreds of meters. Surface currents are created by three things: global wind patterns, the rotation of the Earth, and the shape of the ocean basins. The Coriolis effect, which describes how Earths rotation steers winds and surface ocean currents, causes freely moving objects to appear to move to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The patterns of surface currents are determined by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earths rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents. Surface wind-driven currents generate upwelling currents in conjunction with landforms, creating deepwater currents.