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gyre
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ocean current
subtropical gyre
subpolar gyre
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gyre

oceanography
Written by
John P. Rafferty
John P. Rafferty writes about Earth processes and the environment. He serves currently as the editor of Earth and life sciences, covering climatology, geology, zoology, and other topics that relate to...
John P. Rafferty
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

gyre, in oceanography and climatology, a vast circular system made up of ocean currents that spirals about a central point. The most prominent are the subtropical gyres, which ring subtropical high-pressure systems, and the subpolar gyres, which enclose areas of low atmospheric pressure over the oceans.

John P. Rafferty