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← GeographyWhich mechanism substantially deflects ocean currents flowing from the equator towards higher latitudes?
A)Coriolis effect from Earth's rotation✓
B)Thermohaline circulation salinity gradient
C)Ekman transport by surface winds
D)Tidal forces from lunar gravitational pull
💡 Explanation
When ocean currents move from the equator towards the poles, the Coriolis effect causes deflection because Earth's rotation results in different speeds at different latitudes, bending the currents. Therefore, the Coriolis effect is the primary driver, rather than salinity gradients, wind (which drives surface currents only), or lunar tides which exert a subtler influence.
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