1The warm water spills north and south through a series of ocean currents
2that mirror to some degree the cells in the atmosphere above the water.
3Like the atmospheric cells, for instance, these giant oceanic gears
4called gyres fall unders the influence of the winds and the Coriolis
5effect and form loops that move water first away from the equator, then
6parallel, and then back to rejoin the equatorial currents. The familiar
7Gulf Stream is one of these gyres, and because of its unique characteristics
8it has particular salience to the fortunes of many civilizations.
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