What describes Ekman transport in oceanography?

Ekman transport is a crucial concept in oceanography that describes the net movement of surface water as a result of wind stress and the Coriolis effect. When wind blows across the surface of the ocean, it exerts a force on the water, causing it to move. However, due to the Coriolis effect, which is caused by the Earth's rotation, this movement is not directly in line with the wind. Instead, the surface water is deflected at an angle to the right of the wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

This interaction results in a spiral effect, where each layer of water moves at a different angle and depth compared to the one above it. The cumulative effect leads to a net movement of water that is typically 90 degrees to the wind direction, toward the right of the wind in the Northern Hemisphere. This net movement contributes significantly to ocean currents and influences the distribution of heat, nutrients, and marine life across different regions of the ocean.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe Ekman transport. The movement of surface water due to temperature gradients refers to thermohaline circulation, while the flow of deep ocean currents towards the equator is more associated with global circulation patterns.