Geostrophic flow allows currents to flow long distances with no apparent Coriolis deflection.
Slide 2 of 17 Geostrophic flow allows currents to flow long distances with no apparent Coriolis deflection. Coriolis deflects water into the center of the gyres, forming a low mound. As height of the mound increases, the pressure gradient steepens pushing the water outward in an attempt to level the mound. When the pressure gradient equals coriolis deflection, the current flows parallel to the wind around the mound as a geostrophic current and this is called geostrophic flow. Gyres in the northern hemisphere rotate clockwise and in the southern hemispheres counterclockwise.