What type of boundary currents flow from East to West or West to East?

Transverse boundary currents, also known as lateral or cross-equatorial currents, flow horizontally across ocean basins, typically from east to west or west to east. This flow is a result of prevailing wind patterns and the Earth’s rotation, creating large gyres in the oceans.

Western boundary currents, for instance, specifically refer to those that flow along the western part of an ocean basin and often carry warm water poleward, while eastern boundary currents flow along the eastern side and tend to be cooler. Equatorial currents are a type of current that flows westward along the equator due to the trade winds, but describing them as transverse does not accurately represent their characteristics or direction since they are not lateral but rather primarily east to west.

Thus, the characteristic of transverse boundary currents as being horizontal and capable of flowing in both directions makes this answer notable and distinct within the context of oceanographic currents.