In general, ocean surface currents circulate
A) clockwise in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
B) counterclockwise in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
C) clockwise in the Atlantic Ocean and counterclockwise in the Pacific Ocean.
D) counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
E) clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ocean surface currents generally circulate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect. This is caused by the rotation of the Earth, which causes moving objects to appear to turn to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. However, there are also other factors that can influence ocean currents, such as wind, temperature, and salinity, so the patterns of surface currents can be complex and variable.

In General, Ocean Surface Currents Circulate