Final answer:
The equatorial countercurrents are a result of the Coriolis force and the convergence of warm and cold ocean currents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equatorial countercurrents are located on either side of 5° N, in the doldrums belt, as a result of the Coriolis force and the convergence of warm and cold ocean currents. The Coriolis force, caused by the rotation of the Earth, deflects the winds to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere, creating countercurrents. The convergence of warm and cold ocean currents influences the distribution of water temperatures and creates areas of upwelling and mixing, which further contribute to the formation of countercurrents.