Final answer:
The movement of surface water in the northern hemisphere due to Ekman transport is 90 degrees to the right of the wind direction, caused by the Coriolis force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theoretical movement of surface water due to Ekman transport in the northern hemisphere is 90 degrees to the right of the wind direction. This phenomenon occurs because of the Coriolis force, which causes moving objects on the Earth's surface, such as wind and ocean currents, to be deflected due to the planet's rotation. In the northern hemisphere, the deflection is to the right, while in the southern hemisphere, it is to the left.
Ekman transport is significant in geophysical fluid dynamics and affects large-scale ocean circulation and weather patterns. When considering surface currents driven by the wind, the cumulative effect of the change in direction with depth in the ocean due to the Coriolis force results in this net transport angle.