OCEAN CURRENTS OF ATLANTIC OCEAN



The Atlantic Ocean is distinctly divided into northern and southern parts. The patterns in both the parts resemble each other to a great extent but the shape of the coasts has introduced changes in the patterns of currents.

The trade winds have given rise to North Equatorial Current in the Northern Atlantic and South Equatorial Currents in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Both these currents carry ocean water towards west. This creates an excessive accumulation of water in the west. In order to prevent the accumulation of ocean water in the west, a current is originated in between them and flows towards east. It takes excess water towards east. This current is known as Counter Equatorial Current. It is better experienced in July than in January.


CURRENTS OF SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

1:-South equitorial current:-

It flows in an east-west direction from the african coast to the south american coast in the south of the equator almost parallel to it.


2:-Brazil current:-

The South Equatorial Current strikes at Cape San Roque and is divided into two branches: (i) A branch flows along South America towards northwest and enters the Caribbean Sea.

(ii) Another branch flows along the Brazil Coast towards south and is known as the Brazil Current.



[B]3:- Falk land Current:-


Its a cold current which flows along the falkland coast in more or less south to north direction.it brings a large number of icebergs from the antarctic region. The meeting of cold falkland and warm brazilian current creates a lot of fog in this area.



4:- South Atlantic Drift:-


The combined water of the brazil and the falkland current comes under the influence of strong westerlies and flow eastward as South Atlantic Drift


5:-Bengula Current:-


Near cape of good hope,a branch of south atlantic current flows northward along the west coast of s.africa.its a cold current and is known as Bengula Current.



There is an important thing to note about the currents in the southern Atlantic oceansmove in anti clockwise direction