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An Ocean Current is a large volume of water flowing in a certain direction. Wind-driven currents are called surface currents. Surface currents carry warm or cold water horizontally across the oceans surface

Surface currents extend to about 400 m below the surface, and they move as fast as 100 km/day.
Earths major wind belts, called prevailing winds, influence the formation of ocean currents and the direction they move.

The equator receives the Sun's direct rays. At the equator air is heated and rises, leaving low pressure areas behind. At about thirty degrees north and south of the equator, the warm air from the equator begins to cool and sink. Between thirty degrees latitude and the equator, most of the cooling sinking air moves back to the equator. The rest of the air flows toward the poles.

The shapes of continents and other land masses affect the flow and speed of currents. Currents form small or large loops and move at different speeds, depending on the land masses they contact. The spinning of the earth on the axis causes the winds to curve which affects the movement of the surface currents. North of the equator is affected by causing winds and currents to move to the right South of the equator is affected by causing winds and currents to move to the left http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/factors-thataffect-wind-pressure-gradient-forces-coriolis-effectfriction.html#lesson

The trade winds are just air movements toward the equator. They are warm, steady breezes that blow almost continuously. The Coriolis Effect makes the trade winds appear to be curving to the west, whether they are traveling to the equator from the south or north.

Between thirty and sixty degrees latitude, the winds that move toward the poles appear to curve to the east. Because winds are named from the direction in which they originate, these winds are called prevailing Westerlies. Prevailing Westerlies in the Northern Hemisphere are responsible for many of the weather movements across the United States and Canada.

At about sixty degrees latitude in both hemispheres, the prevailing westerlies join with the polar easterlies to reduce upward motion. The polar easterlies form when the atmosphere over the poles cools. This cool air then sinks and spreads over the surface. As the air flows away from the poles, it is turned to the west by the Coriolis effect. Again, because these winds begin in the east, they are called easterlies.

The doldrums is an area of calm weather. The trade winds coming from the south and the north meet near the equator. These converging trade winds produce general upward winds as they are heated, so there are no steady surface winds.

Upwelling is the vertical movement of water toward the oceans surface. Upwelling occurs when wind blows across the oceans surface and pushes water away from an area. Deeper colder water then rises to replace it. Upwelling often occurs along coastlines. Upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich water from deep in the ocean to the oceans surface.

Deep Ocean Upwelling Global Conveyor Belt

Shoreline Upwelling

Warm-water currents and coldwater currents affect weather and climate in different ways Regions near warmwater currents are often warmer and wetter than regions near cold-water currents

The Gulf Stream is a warm-water current that affects coastal areas of the southwestern United States by transferring lots of thermal energy and moisture to the surrounding air.

The cold California Current affects coastal areas of the southwestern United States.