The Northern Current Current: a Brief Characteristic

In the water massif of the World Ocean, due to local winds (trade winds), strong currents are formed, which flow along the equator line from its two sides, they are called correspondingly - the Southern and Northern trade winds. If you look at the map, you can see that they pass, without going beyond the boundaries of the thirty-degree parallel of the northern and southern latitudes. Let's take a closer look at the northern branch.

Short description and features

The northern trade-wind (North-equatorial) current is a warm sea current that occurs in three oceans: the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific. It originates from the Canary Current near Cape Verde. Heading to the north-west, it is located in the region of 10-30 ° north latitude. In winter, its speed reaches up to 1 knot with a stability of 50 to 75%. But in the summer it slows down its tempo to 0.5 knots, respectively, and reduces its resistance to 25-50%. The current arises from the winds of the north-east trade wind.

In the Pacific Ocean, the Northern Trade Current is due to the deviation of a powerful stream of water called the California Current. The direction is mainly western. Near the eastern shores of the Philippines passes into Kuroshio.

But in the Indian Ocean, this current is seasonal. It occurs only in the winter season. It is formed due to northeastern cyclones. By its nature is weak, runs parallel to the equator in the western direction.

Study of currents

Modern researchers have studied the Northern Trade-Flow Current and its structure. Due to this, they were able to detect that the water circulating masses consist of both weak currents and powerful bands, and there are also countercurrents. Academicians L. Brekhovskikh and K. Fedorov noted several times that this current is capable of changing its direction to the opposite. They found out the reasons for this phenomenon: all this is due to strong vortices.

Dimensions and Temperature of the Northern Tradetrade Current

On the eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean, the North Equatorial Flow reaches a depth of 50 m. Closer to the west, it extends to the bottom up to 150 m, in some places even up to 200 m. This phenomenon creates a longitudinal bend below the flow boundary.

In the Pacific Ocean, the Northern Trade Current is divided into three parts. The most powerful forms the circulating water mass of Kuroshio. The average water temperature is +20 ^о С ... + 22 ^о С. However, in places it can rise higher.

Atlantic Ocean: the first branch of the current

The northern trade winds in the Atlantic Ocean pass through the entire water area, and not far from such islands as the Great Antilles and the Bahamas, spreads into two streams: the northern and southern ones.

The first circulating mass was called the Antilles Current. From the place where the branching takes place, the current is directed to the north, appreciably slowing down to a speed of 0.5 knots. In December and February it becomes more powerful and swift with a stability of 50-75%. This current is washed from the outside by the whole chain of the Antilles. It on the eastern periphery becomes wider and gradually fades in the waters of the Sargasso Sea. It is this branch that gives rise to the most famous and strong current in the Atlantic Ocean - the Gulf Stream.

The second branch of the current

The second branch of this trend passes near the Lesser Antilles and near the coast of Guiana, connecting with the Guiana. His path tends to the Florida Strait. And before reaching it, the current is washed by the coast of South America. It moves at a speed of 35 to 50 miles and flows into the waters of the Caribbean Sea, as a result of the Caribbean current.

The northern trade-wind current is closing in the anticyclonic cycle of ocean currents in the Northern waters.