The westward intensification of wind-driven ocean currents

A study is made of the wind-driven circulation in a homogeneous rectangular ocean under the influence of surface wind stress, linearised bottom friction, horizontal pressure gradients caused by a variable surface height, and Corlolie force.An intense crowding of streamlines toward the western border of the ocean is discovered to be caused by variation of the Cortolis parameter with latitude. It is suggested that this process is the main reason for the formation of the intense currents (Gulf stream and others) observed in the actual oceans.