Consider the following statements: 1. Ocean currents are dominated by huge surface gyres that are driven by the global surface wind pattern. 2. Equatorial currents move cold water westward and then poleward along the east coasts of continents. With regard to the statements given above, which of the following is correct?

Statement 1 is correct as ocean surface circulation is dominated by five major subtropical gyres driven by global surface wind patterns, specifically the trade winds and westerlies [5]. These gyres are formed by the frictional drag of persistent climatological winds on the ocean surface. Statement 2 is false because equatorial currents, driven by trade winds, move warm water westward from the eastern side of ocean basins [1]. Upon reaching the western edge of the ocean basin (the east coast of continents), these waters are deflected poleward as western boundary currents [2]. These western boundary currents, such as the Gulf Stream or Kuroshio, are characterized as warm, fast-flowing currents that transport heat from the tropics toward higher latitudes [1]. In contrast, cold water moves equatorward along the west coasts of continents as eastern boundary currents [3].

Sources

1. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 32: Ocean Movements Ocean Currents And Tides > Cold Currents and Warm Currents > p. 488
2. [5] https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_currents/04currents3.html
3. [1] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: The Oceans > The Movements of Ocean Currents > p. 109
4. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 13: Movements of Ocean Water > Major Ocean Currents > p. 112