Oceanography Currents

Front 1

Agulhas current

Back 1

Also called Agulhas stream, a generally southwestward-flowing ocean current of the Indian Ocean; one of the swiftest of ocean currents. Throughout the year, part of the south equatorial current turns south along the east coast of Africa and feeds the strong Agulhas current. To the south of latitude 30=AE$=AFS, the Agulhas current is a well-defined and narrow current that extends less than 100 km from the coast. To the south of South Africa the greatest volume of its waters bends sharply to the south and then toward the east, thus returning to the Indian Ocean by joining the flow from South Africa toward Australia across the southern part of that ocean. = However, a small portion of the Agulhas current water appears to round the Cape of Good Hope from the Indian Ocean and continue into the Atlantic Ocean.

Front 2

Alaska current

Back 2

An ocean current, the northward flowing division of the Aleutian current . It circulates cyclonically around the Gulf of Alaska; part of the water passes between the Aleutian Islands into the Bering Sea from which it emerges as the Oyashio , and part rejoins the Aleutian current. It enters the Gulf of Alaska along the American west coast and, since it comes from the south, it has the character of a warm current in spite of the fact that it carries subarctic water. It therefore exercises an influence on climatic conditions similar, on a small scale, to that which the North Atlantic current and Norwegian current exercise on the climates of northwestern Europe. Aleutian current - also called subarctic current. An eastward flowing ocean current which lies north of the North Pacific current; it is the northern branch of the Kuroshio extension which moves northeast then east between 40=AE$=AFN and 50=AE$=AFN. As it approaches the cost of North America it divides to form the northward-flowing Alaska current and the southward-flowing California current .

Front 3

Antarctic circumpolar current

Back 3

Also called west wind drift, the ocean current with the largest volume transport (approximately 110 x 10[s] m[s]/sec), and the swiftest current; it flows from west to east through all the oceans around the Antarctic Continent. It is locally deflected from its course, partly by the distribution of land and sea and partly by the submarine topography. Beside the bends that are associated with the bottom topography, the effects of the distribution of land and sea and of the currents in the adjacent oceans are also evident. On its northern edge it is continuous with the South Atlantic current , the South Pacific current and the eastward-flowing extension of the Agulhas current in the Indian Ocean. A flow to the west near the Antarctic Continent is evident only in the Weddell Sea area, where an extensive cyclonic motion occurs to the south of the circumpolar current. antarctic convergence

Front 4

Antilles current

Back 4

An ocean current, the northern branch of the north equatorial current flowing along the northern side of the Great Antilles carrying water that is identical with that of the Sargasso Sea. The Antilles current eventually joins the Florida current (after the latter emerges from the Straits of Florida) to form the Gulf Stream .

Front 5

Benguela current

Back 5

The northward flowing current along the west coast of Africa; it is one of the swiftest of ocean currents, the strongest current in the South Atlantic. It is a continuation of the South Atlantic current . Proceeding toward the equator, the Benguela current gradually leaves the coast and continues as the northern portion of the south equatorial current .

Front 6

Brazil current

Back 6

The warm ocean current flowing southward along the Brazilian coast. Its origin is in the westward flowing south equatorial current , part of which turns south and flows along the South American coast as the Brazil current, a tongue of water of high temperature and high salinity. At about 35=AE$=AFS it meets the Falkland (Malvinas) current , the two turning east and crossing the ocean as the South Atlantic current .

Front 7

California Current

Back 7

The ocean current flowing southward along the west coast of the United States from approximately Washington to northern Baja California. It is the major branch of the Aleutian current . As a whole, the current represents a wide body of water that moves sluggishly toward the southeast. Off Central America, the California current turns toward the west and becomes the north equatorial current .

Front 8

Canaries current

Back 8

The southern branch of the North Atlantic current (which divides on the eastern side of the ocean); it moves south past Spain and North Africa to join the north equatorial current .

Front 9

Caribbean current

Back 9

An ocean current flowing westward through the Caribbean Sea. It is formed by the commingling of part of the waters of the north equatorial current with those of the Guiana current . It flows through the Caribbean Sea as a strong current and continues with increased speed through the Yucatan Channel; there it bends sharply to the right and flows eastward with great speed out through the Straits of Florida to form the Florida current .

Front 10

Davidson current

Back 10

A countercurrent of the Pacific Ocean running north along the west coast of the United States (from northern California to Washington to at least latitude 48 degrees) during the winter months.

Front 11

East Australia current

Back 11

The ocean current flowing southward along the east coast of Australia. It is formed by the division of part of the south equatorial current as it approaches the coast of Australia. Part of the east Australia current joins the west wind drift flowing eastward toward South America. In the summer (Southern Hemisphere) part of this water flows westward along the south coast of Australia into the Indian Ocean.

Front 12

East Greenland current

Back 12

An ocean current flowing south along the east coast of Greenland, carrying water of low salinity and low temperature. The east Greenland current is joined by most of the water of the Irminger current . The greater part of the current continues through Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland, but one branch turns to the east and forms a portion of the counterclockwise circulation in the southern part of the Norwegian Sea. Some of the east Greenland current curves to the right around the tip of Greenland, flowing northward into Davis Strait as the west Greenland current . The main discharge of the Arctic Ocean is via the east Greenland current.

Front 13

equatorial undercurrent

Back 13

An ocean current flowing eastward (counter to and between the westward-flowing north equatorial current and south equatorial current ) through all the oceans. In the Atlantic Ocean, it flows east across the ocean between the north and south equatorial currents across the full width of the ocean in northern summer, and across the eastern half of the ocean in northern winter. It eventually becomes the Guinea current . In the Pacific Ocean, it is one of the swiftest ocean currents; it flows east across the ocean between the latitudes 3=AE$=AFN and 10=AE$=AF= N. = East of the Philippines it is joined by the southern part of the north equatorial current. In the Indian Ocean, it flows between the north and south equatorial currents, to the east; unlike the equatorial countercurrents of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, it lies south of the equator. In northern summer, when the southwest monsoon forms a continuation of the southeast trade winds, the countercurrent, along with the north equatorial current, is replaced by an easterly flowing monsoon current .

Front 14

Falkland current

Back 14

In the Atlantic Ocean, an ocean current flowing northward along the Argentine coast. The Falkland current originates as a branch of the antarctic circumpolar current . At about 35 degrees it is joined by the Brazil current , both flowing east across the ocean as the South Atlantic current .

Front 15

Florida current

Back 15

All of the northward-moving water from the Straits of Florida to a point off Cape Hatteras where the current ceases to follow the continental slope. It is one of the swiftest of ocean currents (flowing at a rate of 2 to 5 knots). The Florida current can be traced directly back to the Yucatan Channel because the water flowing through the channel continues on the shortest route to the Straits of Florida and only a small amount sweeps into the Gulf of Mexico, later to join the Florida current. After passing the Straits of Florida the current is reinforced by the Antilles current , but the name Florida Current is retained as far as Cape Hatteras. The Florida current is part of the Gulf Stream system .

Front 16

Guiana current

Back 16

An ocean current flowing northwestward along the northern coast of South America (the Guianas). The Guiana current is an extension of the south equatorial current (flowing west across the ocean between the equator and 20 degrees), which crosses the equator and approaches the coast of South America. Eventually, it is joined by part of the north equatorial current and becomes, successively, the Caribbean current and the Florida current .

Front 17

Guinea current

Back 17

An ocean current flowing along the south coast of northwest Africa into the Gulf of Guinea. The Guinea current originates as an equatorial countercurrent flowing east across the Atlantic.

Front 18

Gulf Stream

Back 18

A warm, well-defined, swift, relatively narrow, ocean current which originates where the Florida current and the Antilles current begin to curve eastward from the continental slope off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. East of the Grand Banks the Gulf Stream meets the cold Labrador current , and the two flow eastward separated by the cold wall . At about 40=AE$=AFN latitude, 50=AE$=AFW longitude, the Gulf Stream becomes the North Atlantic current which continues east-northeastward across the ocean. The Florida current, Gulf Stream, and North Atlantic current together form the Gulf Stream system . Sometimes the entire system is referred to as the Gulf Stream .

Front 19

Humboldt current

Back 19

Same as Peru current.

Front 20

Irminger current

Back 20

An ocean current that is one of the terminal branches of the Gulf Stream system (part of the northern branch of the North Atlantic current ); it flows toward the west off the south coast of Iceland. A small portion of the water of the Irminger Current bends around the west coast of Iceland but the greater amount turns south and becomes more or less mixed with the water of the east Greenland current .

Front 21

Japan current

Back 21

Same as Kuroshio current.

Front 22

Kuroshio current

Back 22

An ocean current flowing northeastward from Formosa to Riukiu and then close to the coast of Japan as far as latitude 35 degrees; part of the Kuroshio system . It is a density-distribution type current, and one of the swiftest of all ocean currents. Also called the Japan current. The Kuroshio is the northward flowing part of the north equatorial current (which divides east of Philippines). Beyond latitude 35=AE$=AFN, where it leaves the coast of Japan, it branches to form two sections of the Kuroshio extension . The current is similar to the Florida current of the Atlantic Ocean.

Front 23

Kuroshio countercurrent

Back 23

Part of the Kuroshio system . Between longitudes 155 degrees and 160 degrees, considerable water turns south and southwest forming part of the Kuroshio countercurrent. It runs at a distance of approximately 700 km from the coast as the eastern branch of a large whirl on the right-hand side of the Kuroshio .

Front 24

Kuroshio extension

Back 24

The warm, eastward-flowing ocean current that represents the direct continuation of the Kuroshio (in latitude 35 degrees where the Kuroshio leaves the coast of Japan), and flows eastward in two branches. The major branch of the Kuroshio extension turns due east; it retains its character as a well-defined flow approximately as far as longitude 160=AE$=AFE (eventually becoming the North Pacific current). The minor branch, to the north, continues toward the northeast as far as latitude 40=AE$=AFN where it bends east (eventually becoming the Aleutian current ). This northern branch becomes rapidly mixed with the cold waters of the Oyashio .

Front 25

Kuroshio system

Back 25

A system of ocean currents including the Kuroshio , Kuroshio extension , North Pacific current , and the lesser Tsushima current and Kuroshio countercurrent .

Front 26

Labrador current

Back 26

An ocean current that flows southward from Baffin Bay, through the Davis Strait, thence southeastward past Labrador and Newfoundland. East of the Grand Banks, the Labrador current meets the Gulf Stream , and the two flow east separated by the cold wall .

Front 27

monsoon current

Back 27

A seasonal, eastward-flowing ocean current of the Indian Ocean. The monsoon current replaces the north equatorial current and the equatorial counter-current in summer (Northern Hemisphere), when the southwest monsoon forms a continuation of the southeast trade winds.

Front 28

Mozambique current

Back 28

That portion of the Agulhas current north of 30 degrees along the east coast of Africa.

Front 29

North Atlantic current

Back 29

A continuation of the Gulf Stream , originating at about 40 degrees latitude and 50 degrees longitude, comprising all the easterly and northerly currents of the North Atlantic originating in the region east of the Grand Banks. The branches of the North Atlantic current are often masked by shallow and variable, wind-driven surface movements so that they are sometimes called the North Atlantic drift . Along the mid-Atlantic ridge the North Atlantic current is divided into two major branches; the northern branch flows between latitudes 50 degrees and 52 degrees separated from the Labrador current by the cold wall . The other branch flows approximately in latitude 45 degrees and carries undiluted Gulf Stream water. Of these branches the northern continues mainly toward the east-northeast and divides, part flowing into the Norwegian Sea and part turning toward the north and northwest eventually giving rise to the Irminger current .

Front 30

North Equatorial current

Back 30

Any of several currents driven by the northeast trade winds blowing over the tropical oceans of the Northern Hemisphere. In the Atlantic ocean, it flows west between the equatorial countercurrent and 30 degrees. Part passes along the northeast side of the West Indies as the Antilles current while part joins the Guiana current and enters the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico as the Caribbean current . In the Pacific Ocean, it crosses from east to west between the approximate latitudes of 10 degrees and 20 degrees. East of the Philippines it divides, part turning south to join the equatorial countercurrent, and part going north to form the Kuroshio . In the Indian Ocean, in northern winter when the northeast monsoon duplicates the trade winds of the other oceans, the north equatorial current flows west and turns to the southwest along the coast of Somaliland as the Somali current . In Northern Hemisphere summer, when the southwest monsoon forms a continuation of the southeast trade winds, the north equatorial current and the equatorial countercurrent are replaced by an eastward flowing monsoon current .

Front 31

Norwegian current

Back 31

Part of the northern branch of the North Atlantic current , which flows northward along the coast of Norway. = The water of the Norwegian current eventually enters the Arctic Ocean, from which the main discharge is via the east Greenland current .

Front 32

Oyashio current

Back 32

A cold ocean current flowing from the Bering Sea southwest along the coast of Kamchatka, past the Kuril Islands, continuing close to the northeast coast of Japan and reaching nearly 35 degrees latitude. The Oyashio turns and continues east eventually jointing the Aleutian current . The cold waters of the Oyashio rapidly mix with those of the northern branch of the Kuroshio extension .

Front 33

Peru current

Back 33

The cold ocean current flowing north along the coasts of Chile and Peru. It is one of the swiftest of ocean currents. The Peru current originates where part of the water that flows toward the east across the subantarctic Pacific Ocean is deflected toward the north as it approaches South America. The northern limit of the current can be placed a little south of the equator, where the flow turns toward the west, joining the south equatorial current . Also called Humboldt current. The southern portion of the Peru current is sometimes called the Chile current .

Front 34

Somali current

Back 34

An ocean current flowing southwestward along the coast of Somaliland (East Africa) as a continuation of the north equatorial current . In summer (Northern Hemisphere), when the north equatorial current and the equatorial countercurrent are replaced by an eastward flowing monsoon current , the Somali current reverses its direction and flows north from about 10=AE$=AFS.

Front 35

South Atlantic current

Back 35

An eastward flowing current of the South Atlantic Ocean that is continuous with the northern edge of the Antarctic circumpolar current .

Front 36

south equatorial current

Back 36

Any of several ocean currents driven by the southeast trade winds flowing over the tropical oceans of the Southern Hemisphere. In the Atlantic Ocean it flows westward between the equator and 20 degrees. Part crosses the equator and flows northwest along the coast of South America as the Guiana current . The rest turns to the left and flows south along the coast of Brazil as the Brazil current. In the Pacific Ocean, the south equatorial current crosses the ocean from east to west between the latitudes of approximately 3 degrees and 10 degrees. Much of it turns south in mid-ocean forming a large anticyclonic whirl. The portion that continues across the ocean divides as it approaches Australia, part moving north toward New Guinea and part turning south along the east coast of Australia as the east Australia current . In the Indian Ocean, the south equatorial current is displaced rather far to the south, and as it approaches the east coast of Africa it turns south, joining the Agulhas current .

Front 37

South Pacific current

Back 37

An eastward flowing current of the South Pacific Ocean that is continuous with the northern edge of the antarctic circumpolar current .

Front 38

subarctic current

Back 38

Same as Aleutian current.

Front 39

Tsushima current

Back 39

A warm, northward-flowing ocean current following the western coast of Japan. The Tsushima current branches off on the left-hand side of the Kuroshio flowing north into the Japan Sea.

Front 40

West Australia current

Back 40

The seasonal ocean current flowing along the west coast of Australia. In the Southern Hemisphere summer it flows northward, then curves toward the west to join the south equatorial current . During Southern Hemisphere winter the west Australia current flows southward.

Front 41

West Greenland current

Back 41

The ocean current flowing northward along the west coast of Greenland into David Strait. It is a continuation of the east Greenland current . Part of the west Greenland current turns around when approaching the Davis Strait and joins the Labrador current ; the rest rapidly loses its character as a warm current as it continues into Baffin Bay.

Front 42

Gulf Stream rings

Back 42

Eddies formed by pinching off of meanders in the Gulf Stream. Eddies forming to the north (coastward side) of the Gulf Stream are called warm core rings and those forming to the south (oceanward side) are called cold core rings.