Western intensification

Ocean currents are complex to say the least. In this post I'll briefly talk about Western Intensification which is basically the intensification of the western parts of ocean currents. This process is a wind driven phenomenon caused in large part due to the Coriolis Effect. Basically, the trade winds apply a stress to the ocean winds. Once the continents play a role there is a tendency for poleward movement to occur. This process explains why the gulf stream is more intense on its western side than the eastern one.