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?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is false.
Ocean currents are dominated by huge surface gyres that are driven by the global surface wind pattern: This statement is correct. Ocean gyres are large, circular systems of ocean currents that are primarily driven by global surface wind patterns, such as the trade winds and westerlies, combined with the Coriolis effect. These gyres play a significant role in distributing heat and nutrients around the world's oceans. Major examples include the North Atlantic Gyre, South Atlantic Gyre, North Pacific Gyre, South Pacific Gyre, and the Indian Ocean Gyre.
Equatorial currents move cold water westward and then poleward along the east coasts of continents: This statement is false. Equatorial currents actually move warm water westward due to the influence of the trade winds. When this warm water reaches the western boundaries of ocean basins, it tends to move poleward along the western coasts of continents, not the eastern coasts. Examples include the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and the Kuroshio Current in the North Pacific. Cold currents, like the California Current and the Canary Current, move along the eastern coasts of continents.
Information Booster:
● Ocean gyres are crucial for regulating Earth's climate by transporting warm and cold water, impacting temperatures and weather patterns globally. ● Equatorial currents, such as the North and South Equatorial Currents, move warm water westward, which influences ocean temperatures and currents further from the equator. ● Western boundary currents, like the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio Current, carry warm water poleward along the western edges of ocean basins, warming coastal areas. ● The Coriolis effect and global wind patterns (trade winds and westerlies) are fundamental in shaping the direction and behavior of these ocean currents.