The Great Swirl: How Ocean Gyres Form

If an ocean current system is driven by global winds and constrained by continents into a massive loop, then it is classified as a gyre.

If the Earth is a rotating sphere, then objects moving over its surface appear to deflect or curve. If this deflection is a result of that rotation, then the Coriolis Effect is the direct cause of the curved paths found in ocean gyres.

If the Coriolis Effect deflects moving water to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, then a continuous loop of water will turn right until it completes a circle. If the water is constantly turning right, then the overall rotation of the gyre must be clockwise.

If the rotating currents of the gyre create a spiral effect that pulls floating plastic toward the center, then the waste accumulates in one spot. If this accumulation occurs, then the resulting area is known as a garbage patch.

If we count the distinct major ocean basins divided by the equator (North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, and Indian), then there are five primary systems. If these are the only ones that span entire basins, then the total count is five.

If winds provide the initial push and the Coriolis Effect provides the curve, then the water moves in a circle. If continental landmasses act as walls that force the water to turn, then all three are necessary components for ocean gyres.

If the direction of the Earth's rotation relative to the observer changes across the equator, then the direction of deflection must also change. If deflection is to the right in the North, then it must be to the left in the South.

If water is a very heavy and dense liquid, then it requires a massive amount of energy to move. If wind provides only a moderate force, then the water in ocean gyres moves slowly, usually only 1 to 2 miles per hour.

If the Earth rotates toward the east, then the water is "pushed" or compressed against the western edges of the ocean basins. If the water is compressed into a narrower space, then it must move faster and deeper to transport the same volume.

If wind pushes the surface and the Coriolis Effect deflects each layer of water below it, then the net movement of the water column is perpendicular to the wind. If this concept explains how ocean gyres are fueled, then it is known as Ekman Transport.

If the wind patterns that drive the edges of the gyre are moving in opposite directions, then the center becomes a "neutral" zone with little movement. If the center is a high-pressure area, then it will have very calm winds and stable weather.

If the water at the equator absorbs a lot of solar energy, then it becomes warm. If ocean gyres transport that warm water to colder northern or southern regions, then they are effectively redistributing heat and regulating the global climate.

If the effect is a result of the Earth's rotational speed changing with latitude, then it is nonexistent at the equator and most powerful at the poles. If it influences any fluid moving over the surface, then it affects both wind and water.

If we trace the loop in the North Atlantic, then we see the warm Gulf Stream moving north, the North Atlantic Current moving east, the Canary Current moving south, and the North Equatorial Current moving west to complete one of the major ocean gyres.

If the Coriolis Effect is the force that causes the curve in a gyre, and that effect is caused by rotation, then no rotation means no curve. If the wind still provides a push, then the water would simply follow the wind's straight path.

If the North Atlantic Gyre creates a calm center where floating materials accumulate, then it supports unique life forms. If that area is characterized by 'Sargassum' seaweed, then it is the Sargasso Sea.

If the "bending" force of rotation disappears at the middle of the Earth, then moving fluids will not be deflected to the left or right. If they are not deflected, then their path will remain straight.

If plastic is a durable material that does not break down, then it lasts for centuries. If the inward spiral of ocean gyres captures this floating material and moves it to a central "dead zone," then it becomes a permanent environmental hazard.

If the Trade Winds blow toward the west at the equator and the Westerlies blow toward the east at higher latitudes, then they provide the "pushes" on opposite sides of the ocean basin. If these opposite pushes exist, then they drive the circular motion of the gyre.

If wind starts the water moving, the Coriolis Effect bends it, and the continents trap it in a loop, then a massive circulation system is formed. If this system is a closed-loop current, then the result is a network of ocean gyres.