Surface Currents

	The surface ocean general circulation is responsible for significant surface transport of heat, salt, passive tracers and ocean pollutants. On basin scales, surface currents and their variations are a major player in climate to weather fluctuations. The boundary currents on each side of the ocean basins transport significant amounts of heat, salt and passive tracers. Western Boundary Currents in particular transport heat and properties polwards, moderating climate. Convergences/divergences, spiralling eddies, and filaments all contribute to vertical motions and mass exchange. Surface currents impact the steepness of surface waves, and are thus important for generating accurate marine sea state forecasts.
	Domain:	Ocean
	Subdomain:	Physical
	Scientific Area:	Physical Properties
	Product:	Surface Geostrophic Current

Surface Geostrophic Currents

Figure: Globcurrent merged global ocean gridded absolute geostrophic velocities from SSALTO/DUACS AVISO L4 Product on 0.1 degree resolution geographic grid.

Source: www.globcurrent.ifremer.fr