Wind-Driven Circulation

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-030484",
  "term": "Wind-Driven Circulation",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "Wind-driven circulation is the large-scale oceanic circulation that results from the actions of the wind. There are two-components, a directly-driven Ekman component and an indirect component, due to the divergences and convergences of the Ekman transport that either leads to water piling up, creating a high pressure system in the ocean or to a low pressure system where surface waters diverge. The indirect component is in geostrophic balance with these pressure systems and the indirect flow is much larger than the directly driven flow (Click here for more information and a schematic).",
  "references": [
    "NOAA's National Oceanographic Partnership Program-CIMAS Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/wind-driven-circulation/"
}