It is defined as a movement in the oceans that has a direction and is continuous. These abiotic features of the environment are created by the average or mean flow of the seawater, winds, Coriolis Effect, salinity and temperature difference, cabbeling and breaking waves. Coriolis Effect is the result of the rotating Earth. The rotating Earth changes the straight line path of the current and winds as they travel. Thus, the currents due to this in the Northern part move to the right side whereas in the Southern Hemisphere they veer to the left. These are different from the tides because they are caused due to the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon. The direction and the strength of these currents are influenced by these factors as well as the depth of the ocean, water density, the configuration of
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North Equatorial Current (Warm): The north equatorial current is generated because of upwelling of cold water near the west coast of Africa and usually formed between the equator and 10° N latitude. This warm current flows from east to west but is deflected northward when it crosses the mid-Atlantic Ridge near 15° N latitude. It again turns southward after crossing over the ridge. It is also pushed westward by the cold Canary current.
The current, after being obstructed by the land barrier of the east coast of Brazil, branches in two. The Antilles current is directed northward and it flows to the east of the West Indies islands, ultimately forming the Sargasso Sea eddy. The Second branch called the Caribbean current joins the Gulf of Mexico and becomes the Gulf Stream.
2. South Equatorial Current (Warm):
South equatorial current is a continuation of the Benguela current and is steadier, stronger and of greater extent compared to the northern equatorial current. It flows from the western coast of Africa to the eastern coast of South America between the equator and 20° S
North Equatorial Current (Warm): The north equatorial current is generated because of upwelling of cold water near the west coast of Africa and usually formed between the equator and 10° N latitude. This warm current flows from east to west but is deflected northward when it crosses the mid-Atlantic Ridge near 15° N latitude. It again turns southward after crossing over the ridge. It is also pushed westward by the cold Canary current.
The current, after being obstructed by the land barrier of the east coast of Brazil, branches in two. The Antilles current is directed northward and it flows to the east of the West Indies islands, ultimately forming the Sargasso Sea eddy. The Second branch called the Caribbean current joins the Gulf of Mexico and becomes the Gulf Stream.
2. South Equatorial Current (Warm):
South equatorial current is a continuation of the Benguela current and is steadier, stronger and of greater extent compared to the northern equatorial current. It flows from the western coast of Africa to the eastern coast of South America between the equator and 20° S