This warm lens of water plays an important role, establishing a horizontal pressure gradient force in and below the wind - driven current. (britannica.com)
Kinetic energy at the surface acting via conduction and convection supplies the upward pressure gradient force which offsets the downward force of gravity in order to constantly hold the mass of an atmosphere off the surface in hydrostatic balance. (newclimatemodel.com)
Surface pressure provides a good proxy for the Walker circulation because, near the Equator, winds tend to flow from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure, under the acccelerating action of pressure gradient forces. (realclimate.org)