authority: gcos
slug: sea-surface-currents
name: Sea Surface Currents
domain: ocean
subdomain: physical
authority_id: gcos:sea-surface-currents
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: sea_water_velocity
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: velocity
    entity: sea-water
canonical_units: m s-1
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Horizontal velocity of the ocean surface from satellite-derived geostrophy
  plus Ekman, HF radar, surface drifters and Doppler scatterometry (SKIM,
  SWOT). Controls heat, freshwater, and tracer transport at the surface.
theme: ocean
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/sea-surface-currents