Geostrophic Velocity

Geostrophic velocity is the current driven by balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force, derived from the thermal wind equation. In most of the ocean away from the equator and coastal boundaries, geostrophic balance is an excellent approximation to the actual flow. Developed by Harald Sverdrup and colleagues in the 1940s, geostrophic velocity calculation from hydrographic data enables estimation of ocean currents without direct current measurements.