The cold current of the Atlantic Ocean is what? Description of the cold Atlantic currents

The Atlantic Ocean is a component of the World Ocean with a powerful stream of air masses. On the occupied territory it is on the second place. The water area is located in different climatic zones. Circulating masses of water currents represent warm and cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean. I'd like to talk about the latter separately. Namely, the reasons for their occurrence and peculiarities. So, let's begin our acquaintance with the huge water element.

The currents of the Atlantic

The Atlantic Ocean (on the map it can be seen clearly) is washed almost all continents. Naturally, this water area forms climatic features in these parts of the land. But thanks to what is this happening? A huge role in the development of the climate is played not only by air masses, but also by currents. Warm in the ocean prevail over the cold. The last in number is only 5.

The currents of the Atlantic Ocean have a feature: they move clockwise, forming a powerful circulation of water flow and replacing the warm waters with cold ones. There are two such cycles in the water area: in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

What cold current of the Atlantic Ocean (name)? As we have said before, large allocate only 5:

1. Labrador.
2. Canary.
3. Bengelskoe.
4. The Falkland Islands.
5. The course of the Western winds.

Current of the Western winds

In the Southern Hemisphere of the Atlantic Ocean, the West Winds are particularly pronounced. The second name is the Antarctic Circumpolar. It is considered to be the most powerful and large flow of the entire World Ocean, passing through all the meridians of the Earth. It captures masses of water not only in the Atlantic Ocean, but also in the Indian and Pacific. The length of this current is 30 thousand square meters. Km, width - up to 1 thousand km. The surface water temperature in this stream ranges from + 2 ° C in the southern regions to + 12 ° C in the northern regions.

This powerful cold current of the Atlantic Ocean arose as a result of the prevailing Western winds. In general, they dominate the temperate zone in the area from 35 ° S. W. Up to 65 ° S. W. The winds blow in the direction from west to east, become stronger in winter, weaker in summer. They blast the terrain of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. But in the latter their power is several times higher due to the fact that there is less land on the barrier by the winds. The area in which the course of the Western winds operates is very often isolated as a separate Southern Ocean. The speed of this water flow in the surface layer reaches 9 m / s, in deep layers it decreases to 4 m / s. This current gives life to two more cold circulating masses: Bengelsky and Falklands.

The Malvinas Current

Falkland (Malvinas) - the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean. Offshoot of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. It is separated from it in the region of the extreme point about. Tierra del Fuego. On its way, it goes around the eastern coast of the South American continent and Patagonia, runs along the Falkland Islands, ends in the area of the La Plata Bay. Further it flows into the warm waters of the Brazilian current. The confluence of the two streams of circulating water is clearly visible from the height, and also if one studies the Atlantic Ocean on a map. The fact is that the waters of the cold current are green, and the warm ones are blue.

The Falklands current has a low speed - up to 1 m / s. The temperature of the water in the flow - from + 4 ° C to +15 ° C. Compared to other circulating masses, it has a lower salinity of water - up to 33 . This is due to the fact that along the course of the Weddell Sea , icebergs begin to move, which are gradually melting.

Benguela Current

Bengelskoe is another branch of the cold current of this ocean, which is separated from the current of the Western winds. It starts at the Cape of Good Hope and, heading north, ends at the Namib Desert (in Africa). Further, turning to the west, joins the South Passat Current, thereby ending the circulation of circulating masses in the Southern Hemisphere. The water temperature of the Bengal Current is not too different from the water temperature in the ocean, it decreases only by 3-4 °. This flow very close to the western edge of the African continent. The direction of the current is set by the western winds at the very beginning and the southeast trade winds in the future.

Labrador Current

In the Northern Hemisphere , the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean, the Labrador Sea, stands out. This stream of sea water begins its journey from the sea of Baffin, heading to Fr. Newfoundland. Passes between Canada and Greenland. Moving from north to south, at the end of the path meets the warm Gulf Stream. Displacing its waters, it directs them to the east. It is known that this warm current provides in many respects a favorable climate throughout Europe. We can say that it is Labrador's that promotes this.

Proximity to the Arctic Ocean and glaciers gives the current a slight salinity of water, up to 32%. Because of the Labrador Current, many icebergs sail to the south of the Atlantic, complicating the way for navigation in these regions. All the infamous Titanic encountered an iceberg, which was brought into the ocean by this current.

Canary Current

Canary - cold current of the Atlantic Ocean. Has a mixed type. At the beginning of its movement (near the northwest coast of Africa and the Canary Islands) the current carries cold water. Further, moving to the west, changes the water temperature from cold to warm and eventually merges into the North-Passat current.