Benguela Current: Description and Features

The Bengel Current is cold water masses circulating along the western coasts of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Washes the western part of the continent, coming from the south and rushing to the north, then to the north-west. The current is a movement that continues the flow of the Western Winds and passes into the South Trade-wind. The circulation of water begins south of the Cape of Good Hope. Ends at the coast of the Namib Desert, which is located in the western part of Africa.

Temperature regime, current and opening

The surface temperature of the stream in the summer is from + 18 ... + 19 ° C in the southern part, and up to +26 ° C in the northern part. In winter, the Benguela current is cooled to +15 ... + 22 ° C, respectively.
The water velocity varies from 1-2 km / h, not exceeding 20-25 cm / sec. The salt level is 35-35.5 ppm.

James Rennell belongs to one of the early descriptions of the unusual flow movement off the coast of Africa. As early as 1832 he wrote about the current, giving it the name "South Atlantic Benguela Current". Rennell wrote how it flowed along the coast of West Africa, aspired to the equatorial belt, then turned to the west and became the Equatorial Current.

Features of the Benguela Current

The current is considered weak, passive. Cold streams of water expand the settlement of the colonies of spectacled penguins to 30 ° south latitude.

Benguela current is subjected to anomalous phenomena under the influence of the atmosphere. "Bengelskoe Nino" - so nicknamed a phenomenon similar to the Pacific similar manifestation in the waters near Peru - El Nino. Three cases were noted that occurred in 1934, 1963, and 1984. The width of the Benguela Current reaches 200-300 km in the south, gradually expanding to the north, where it is 750 km.
It is known that one of the sources of this current is the Indian Ocean (about 25% of the mass carried).

Additional Information

The flow affects the microclimate, which is why precipitation rarely happens. This is due to the cold air, which is denser and heavier than warm air.

The movement of water is most clearly restricted off the coast of the continent and has a more chaotic, volatile character in the western part. The volume of water is 20-25 Sv. All of them are displaced by the Benguela Current. In which ocean can you still see such characteristics? Special changes such indicators do not make. By means of hydroanalysis, the results showed that the volume change is within 20%.

Experts found the presence of a mesoscale active vortex field. It consists of large anticyclonic rings with a warm center and atmospheric signs with a cold hearth.

Summarizing, one can give an answer to someone who is interested in the question: Is the Benguela current warm or cold? Definitely it is cold, while having very strong characteristics, which have already been mentioned above. About the flow has been known for a long time, but to a detailed study of it, hydrologists have begun relatively recently. In a short time, it was possible to find out its origin and provide a brief description. And this is because the current is strong enough, and this poses a certain threat to navigation.