Outflow Current

in oceans and seas, a current caused by a slope in the surface of a sea caused by a local rise or depression from the inflow of sea or river water, atmospheric precipitates, or evaporation. The velocity of outflow currents is proportional to the slope of the surface of the sea. The clearest example of outflow currents in oceans is the Florida Current, which flows from the Gulf of Mexico and gives rise to the Gulf Stream.