The conventional interpretation of paleocurrent studies is that directional current structures aid in identifying the location of source areas, transport direction, basin architecture, and paleoslope of ancient sedimentary sequences. Numerous examples from ancient fluvial deposits have reinforced this view. Because directional current structures are used in basin studies to explore for and delineate petroleum reservoirs, an understanding of modern current systems in relation to sediment dispersal patterns is economically important.

The marine environment is characterized by different factors that control the dispersal of sediments. In coastal environments, directional current structures are fashioned by a combination of tidal, wave- and wind-driven currents which sometimes flow independently from slope and sediment sources. Dispersal patterns resulting from these currents are oriented normal, parallel, opposite, and diagonal to both slope and the location of sediment sources. Bimodal dispersal patterns appear to characterize estuaries, tidal inlets, beaches, and higher and lower tidal flats. Quadrimodal dispersal patterns characterize the tidal flat environment. Unimodal, slope-independent patterns dominate coastal dunes. The deltaic environment appears to be the only coastal environment where sediment dispersal is slope-dependent.

The direction of flow of marine currents on continental shelves and in deep ocean basins is controlled by differences in density reflecting temperature and salinity differences, by wind action, by tidal action, and by the rotation of the earth. Some of these deep currents scour the ocean floor. Continental shelf dispersal patterns appear to be unimodal and bimodal and parallel with sea-floor topography. Deep-sea current dispersal patterns appear to be unimodal and parallel with sea-floor topography. Only turbidity currents, slump, and sand flow are characterized by downslope dispersal in deep-sea environments.

Complex combinations of ocean current systems are known and include those which converge, diverge, and are stratified. Where two currents converge, one system will flow over the other because of differences in density. Converging current sole-mark orientations have been observed in flysch sediments, indicating that similar converging current systems may have existed in the past. These and other data also suggest that, possibly, many flysch paleocurrent indicators may have been formed by bottom-scouring ocean currents.