The general movement of the large mass of surface water in a definite pattern is called ocean currents.
CAUSES OF THE MOVEMENT OF OCEAN CURRENTS
- The earth’s rotation which results in the genesis of deflective or Coriolis force.
- The planetary winds.
- The difference in the temperature of ocean waters between the equator and the poles.
- Similarly of the ocean affects the density of water, which is the main cause of the movement of ocean water.
- The shape and configuration of the continent determine the direction of the ocean current.
OCEAN CURRENTS
Types of ocean currents on the basis of temperature can be divided into following—
- Warm Currents: Those ocean currents which flow from the warmer equatorial zone to the cooler polar regions having a higher surface temperature are called warm currents.
- Cold Currents: Those ocean currents which flow from the polar region to the equatorial region, having a low surface temperature are called cold currents.
Major Ocean Currents of the Atlantic Ocean
Warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean | Cold Current of the Atlantic Ocean |
1. North Equatorial Current which bifurcates into Antilles Current and Caribbean Current. | 1. Labrador Current - Originates in the Baffin Bay drifts south eastwards Baffin and Greenland and merges with Gulf stream off New Foundland. |
2. South Equatorial Current bifurcates at the Current protruding landmass of northeast Brazil into northern Cayenne Current and the southern Brazilian Current (South Atlantic Ocean). | 2. The Irminger Current of Greenland Current Flows between Greenland and Iceland and merges with North Atlantic Drift. |
3. Gulf stream - One of the strongest ocean system which originates in the Gulf of Mexico. It consists of (i) Florida Current - From the Strait of Florida to Cape Hatteras (USA) | 3. Canaries Current - Continuation of North Atlantic Drift along the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa in the southern direction. |
4. Counter Equatorial Current - Flows from west to east in between the North and South Equatorial Current. | 4. Falkland Current - Flows northwards along the eastern coast of South America up to Argentina. |
| 5. South Atlantic Drift - Under the influence of westerlies at about 400S latitude, Brazilian Current continues as the South Atlantic Current. |
| 6. Benguela Current - Flows northwards along the western coast of South Africa. |
Major Ocean Currents of the Pacific Ocean
WARM CURRENTS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN | COLD CURRENTS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN |
1. North Equatorial Current - Flows westwards from the western coast of Mexico to the Philippines. | 1. Oyashio (Kurile) Current - Bering Current or Alaskan Current and Okhotsk Current meet to form Oyashio Current. |
2. South Equatorial Current - Flows westwards in the southern Pacific Ocean and bifurcates into northern and southern branches near new Guinea. | 2. California Current - Flows along with the west-tern cost of USA and finally merges with North Equatorial Current (Warm) to complete the circulation. |
3. Counter Equatorial Current - Flows between north and south Equatorial Current in the opposite direction. | 3. West Wind Drift - Flows from west to east in the zone of 400-500S latitude under the influence of Westerlies. |
4. Kuroshio or Japan Current - Flows from Taiwan to Bering Strait. | 4. Peruvian (Humboldt) Current - Flows northwards along the western coast of South America is actually the continuation of West Wind Drift. |
Major Ocean Currents of the Indian Ocean
WARM CURRENTS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN
- Indian Equatorial Current: Flows westwards in the south Indian Ocean, bifurcates at Madagascar and flows are Mozambique and Aughulas Current in the southern direction.
- South West Monsoon Current: Flows along the coasts of India in an easterly direction.
- North-West Monsoon Current: Flows along the eastern coasts of India during winter.
Major Ocean Routes of the World
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