The Atlantic Ocean is a component of the World Ocean with a powerful flow of air masses. According to the occupied territory, it is in second place. The water area is located in different climatic zones. The circulating masses of water flows represent the warm and cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean. I would like to talk about the latter separately. Namely, the causes of their occurrences and features. So, we will begin our acquaintance with the huge water element.
Atlantic Currents
The Atlantic Ocean (this is clearly visible on the map) washes almost all continents. Naturally, this water area forms climatic features in these land areas. But what makes this happen? A huge role in the formation of climate is played not only by air masses, but also by currents. Warm in the ocean prevail over the cold. The last in number, there are only 5.
The currents of the Atlantic Ocean have a peculiarity: they move clockwise, forming a powerful cycle of water flow and replacing warm waters with cold ones. There are two such cycles in the water area: in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
What is the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean (name)? As we said earlier, there are only 5 large ones:
- Labrador.
- Canary.
- Bengel
- Falkland.
- The course of the Westerly winds.
Westerly Current
In the Southern Hemisphere of the Atlantic Ocean, the course of the West winds is especially pronounced. The second name is Antarctic circumpolar. It is considered the most powerful and largest stream of the entire oceans passing through all the meridians of the Earth. It captures the masses of water, not only the Atlantic Ocean, but also the Indian and Pacific. The length of this current is 30 thousand square meters. km, width - up to 1 thousand km. The temperature of surface water in this stream varies 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 West winds. Basically, they dominate the territory of the temperate zone in the region from 35 ° S. w. up to 65 ° S w. Winds blow from west to east, become stronger in winter, weaker in summer. Blow around 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 obstacle near the winds. The area in which the current of the West winds operates is very often distinguished as a separate Southern Ocean. The speed of this water flow in the surface layer reaches 9 m / s, in the deep layers it decreases to 4 m / s. This current gives life to two more cold circulating masses: Bengel and Falkland.
Malvinas Current
Falkland (Malvinas) - the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean. Branch of the Antarctic circumpolar stream. Separates from it at the extreme point of about. Tierra del Fuego. On its way, it goes around the eastern shores of the South American continent and Patagonia, flows along the Falkland Islands, ends in the area of La Plata Bay. Then it flows into the warm waters of the Brazilian current. The confluence of two streams of circulating water is clearly visible from a height, and also if you study 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 Falkland stream has a low speed - up to 1 m / s. The water temperature in the course is from + 4 ° to + 15 ° . Compared with other circulating masses, it has a lower salinity of water - up to 33 ‰. This is due to the fact that icebergs, which gradually melt, begin to move along the Weddell Sea .
Bengal Current
Bengel is another branch of the cold stream of this ocean, which is separated from the current of the Western winds. It begins at the Cape of Good Hope and, heading north, ends in the Namib Desert (in Africa). Further, turning to the west, it flows into the South Passat current, thereby ending the circulation of circulating masses in the Southern Hemisphere. The water temperature of the Bengal Current does not differ too much from the temperature of the water in the ocean, it decreases only by 3-4 °. This stream is very close to the western edge of the African continent. The direction of the current is set by westerly winds at the very beginning and southeast trade winds in the future.
Labrador Current
In the Northern Hemisphere , the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean - Labrador, stands out. This stream of sea water begins its journey from the Baffin Sea, heading to about. 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, directs them to the east. It is known that it is this warm current that provides a largely favorable climate throughout Europe. We can say that it is Labrador that contributes to this.
The proximity to the Arctic Ocean and glaciers gives the current a small salinity of the water, up to 32%. Because of the Labrador Current, numerous icebergs come to the south of the Atlantic, complicating the way for shipping in these regions. The notorious Titanic collided with an iceberg, which was brought to the ocean by this particular current.
Canary Current
Canary - the cold current of the Atlantic Ocean. It has a mixed type. At the beginning of its movement (off the northwestern coast of Africa and the Canary Islands), the flow carries cold waters. Further, moving to the west, it changes the temperature of the water from cold to warm and ultimately flows into the North Passat current.