The North Atlantic Current: Its Features and Influence on the Climate

Everyone knows that the ocean is not a static formation, the water in it is in constant motion. Sometimes it moves in the form of wide streams, which scientists called ocean currents. One of the main on the planet is the North Atlantic Current, which will be discussed in this article.

Oceanic currents and their place in the geographic environment of the Earth

The marine (or oceanic) current is a stream of water masses with the same properties, moving in one direction. Because of what it is formed? Due to constant winds. Thus, in the area of the equator, in the Atlantic Ocean, the most powerful oceanic current of the northern hemisphere , the Gulf Stream , begins. At about 45 degrees north latitude, it is transformed into the North Atlantic Current.

But to the south of the equator the largest is the current of the Western Winds, which traverses the entire globe. Its approximate width is several thousand kilometers, and the water in it moves at a speed of 3.5 kilometers per hour. It is generally accepted (although not all geographers share this position) that it is precisely the boundary of the so-called Southern Ocean (the fifth one, which was recently singled out).

Marine currents are studied in detail by oceanologists using special vessels, as well as satellite technologies. In the geographical envelope of the planet, they play a very important role: they provide migration in the ocean of salts, heat, living organisms, promote mixing of water. In addition, they significantly affect the climate of the continents, especially their coastal areas.

It is known that cold currents reduce average air temperatures along the coasts along which they pass, and warm currents bring heat to the coast. They also affect the amount of precipitation falling: cold - reduce, and warm - increase.

In their influence on the climate of the territories one can be convinced by a simple example. So, the port in Murmansk is not freezing just because of the North Atlantic current passing by. But the driest place on the planet - the Atacama Desert on the South American coast - was not accidentally formed where the Peruvian current flows .

North-Atlantic Current: his "propiska" on the world map

To find out where the North Atlantic Current is, you need to look at the corresponding map. His "home", as you can see, is the Atlantic Ocean.

This powerful ocean current is a continuation of the Gulf Stream, originating at the equator. It begins in the Great Newfoundland Bank and flows through the Atlantic to the northeast in a powerful stream. Further, near the island of Ireland, it branches into two parts. One branch (called the Canary Current) turns south, and the other continues to move to the northeast, bordering the northern outskirts of the European region. Even further this branch again divides into Norwegian and Irminger's current.

This is the geography of the current. What physical and geographical properties are characteristic for him?

North Atlantic Current: Temperature and Water Flow Rate

The flow is referred to warm, the water temperature in it ranges from +7 to +16 degrees Celsius. The warm North Atlantic current is completely cooled only in the Arctic Ocean, mixing with its waters. The speed of water movement in it is not the same: from 1.8 km / h in the southern part to 0.4 km / h in the north.

It is worth noting that the main physico-geographical indicators of the North Atlantic Current are unstable. Both the temperature and the water velocity depend strongly on the intensity of the Gulf Stream, which in turn is expressed in sudden changes in weather conditions in Europe (especially in winter).

Modern environmental threats

The Gulf Stream, in particular the North Atlantic Current, plays a crucial role in shaping the climate of Europe. So, in the winter it considerably softens frosts, and in the summer - reduces heat and brings a considerable amount of precipitation. This is especially noticeable in the UK, where fog and prolonged drizzle became almost national symbols.

Recently, environmentalists are increasingly saying that the North Atlantic Current can stop altogether. The reason for this - changes in the salinity of the Atlantic waters, as well as massive oil spills in ocean waters. Other geographers reject this possibility, speaking only of the possibility of reducing the intensity of the flow due to these factors. Such, in their opinion, occurred more than once in the last 50 thousand years.

Finally

The North Atlantic Current is one of the most important in the North Atlantic. It is of great importance for the climate of Europe. However, global environmental problems associated with oil pollution of the ocean's waters, threaten its existence.