Final answer:
The Coriolis effect causes the clockwise rotation of ocean currents in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise rotation in the Southern Hemisphere due to deflection of motions caused by Earth’s rotation.
Step-by-step explanation:
On Earth, surface ocean currents rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere mainly due to the Coriolis effect. Due to Earth's rotation, motions in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the right, which causes the clockwise rotation, and in the Southern Hemisphere, motions are deflected to the left, causing the counterclockwise rotation. The Coriolis effect is usually negligible for small-scale motions, but it is substantial for large-scale motions such as wind patterns and ocean currents, leading to phenomena such as the counterclockwise circulation of hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere.In conclusion, the Coriolis effect is the correct answer, which describes the force that affects the direction of the wind and water currents across Earth due to its rotation. This effect is essential to understanding climate, meteorology, and oceanography.