What explains eastward flow of equatorial countercurrent?
Earth rotates from west to east, so the piled up water due to earth’s rotation will come down on its eastern side and will thus flow in the eastward direction. Therefore, essentially its the earth’s rotation that explains the eastward flow of equatorial counter current.
What direction does the equatorial countercurrent flow?
The Equatorial Counter Current is an eastward flowing, wind-driven current which extends to depths of 100–150 metres (330–490 ft) in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
In which month will the equatorial countercurrent be strongest?
Both the NECC and the SEC are strongest from July to September (austral winter) and are also at their northernmost positions during this time (Peterson and Stramma, 1991).
What current flows near the equator?
The North Equatorial Current (NEC) is a westward wind-driven current mostly located near the equator, but the location varies from different oceans. The NEC in the Pacific and the Atlantic is about 5°-20°N, while the NEC in the Indian Ocean is very close to the equator.
What are the factors that aid the formation of counter equatorial current?
Counter equatorial current
- Piling up of water in the western pacific due to trade winds.
- The presence of doldrums (equatorial low pressure belt) in between the north equatorial current and the south equatorial current.
- Piling of water in the western part of oceans due to rotation of earth (this is a very general point).
Why is there an equatorial counter current?
The equatorial countercurrent plays an important role in the circulation of mass, heat, and salt in the tropical oceans. It provides one of the pathways through which warm surface water returns eastward after being transported westward in the South Equatorial Current.
Why does equatorial countercurrent occur?
The equatorial countercurrents are driven by a distinct surface wind pattern in the tropics. Strong westward trade winds result in westward surface flow in most of the tropical Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The stronger winds to the south pile up water where the winds are weak.
What is the other name of Kuroshio current?
Kuroshio, (Japanese: “Black Current”, ) also called Japan Current, strong surface oceanic current of the Pacific Ocean, the northeasterly flowing continuation of the Pacific North Equatorial Current between Luzon of the Philippines and the east coast of Japan.
What is the other name of Kuroshio Current?
Is Falkland current warm or cold?
The Falkland Current (also called Malvinas Current or Falklands Current) is a cold water current that flows northward along the Atlantic coast of Patagonia as far north as the mouth of the Río de la Plata.
Is the equatorial current warm or cold?
Any current flowing from the equatorial region toward the polar region is des- ignated as warm; any current flowing from the polar region toward the equator is designated as cold.
Where does the North Equatorial Counter current flow?
More often called the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC), this current flows west-to-east at about 3-10°N in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Pacific basins, between the North Equatorial Current (NEC) and the South Equatorial Current (SEC).
Is there an equatorial current in the Indian Ocean?
This gives birth to the Atlantic North Equatorial, which, as it crosses the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, jogs north only to bend south beyond the ridge. In the Indian Ocean the place of a north equatorial current is taken by the Monsoon Current. There is, however, an Indian South Equatorial Current.
How does the Equatorial Countercurrent affect the sea level?
Equatorial countercurrent. Lying primarily between latitude 3° and 10° N, the countercurrents shift south during the northern winter and north during the summer. To either side the trade winds blow constantly and push great volumes of water westward in the equatorial currents, raising the sea level in the west.
Which is the source of the Pacific South Equatorial Current?
The Peru Current flows north as a source of the Pacific South Equatorial Current. The Pacific North Equatorial Current is given a westward impetus by the Northeast Trade Winds (latitude 10°–25° N).