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OCEAN

CURRENTS

TOPICS

CAUSES of OCEAN
CURRENTS,
CHARACTERISTICS of
OCEAN CURRENTS,
MAIN CURRENTS in the
WORLD OCEANS,

INTRODUCTION

1. The water of the oceans is in a state of continual move


not only at the surface but at all depths.

he ocean current circulation takes place in 3 dimensions.


he strongest currents occur in the upper layer.
his is shallow when compared with the ocean depth.

3. The motion near the sea surface is mainly in a horizon


direction. At the depths the vertical motion exists.

4. For ships navigation the current upto the depth which


ship is floating (vessels draught) is of main concern.

5. Based on the above the vessels response to the curre


the surface and at the depth upto its draught is consid
when passages are planned.

CAUSES OF OCEAN CURRENTS

he processes which cause ocean currents are complex.


However, two main causes for the ocean currents are
xplained and found to justify their existence and flow in
he world oceans. These are explained below.

WIND DRIFT CURRENTS


1. These are due to wind stress acting on the water
surface.
Wind blowing over the water surface tends to drag
the upper
most layer of water in the direction in which it is
2. blowing.
When the water is set in motion the Coriolis force
(due to earths rotation) deflects the movement of
water (to the right in NH and left in SH), These are
due to wind stress acting on the water surface.

WIND DRIFT CURRENTS


3. As per Ekmans theory the resulting effect of
surface flow (wind drift current) should be in the
direction 45 to the right (in NH) and left (in SH).
4. From observations it has been found to be at times
varying from 20 to 45.
5. As per the theory, going in depth the current speed
will become less. However, the angle between wind
direction and current gradually increases.
6. The ratio between the speed of the surface current
and the speed of the wind that generated it cannot
be exactly stated. The average empirical value is
considered as 1:40 (or 0.0025). This because the
production of a current in response to the wind IS
NOT INSTATANEOUS.

WIND DRIFT CURRENTS


7. For a steady state of current to be established the
time varies according to latitude. It is about 24
hours for a steady state to be established.
8. Hurricane Force winds gives rise to current of
speeds 2 knots and more. However, they are short
lived since direction changes. Thus with strong
force winds the wind drift currents are usually not
observed.
EXAMPLES
OF
WIND
DRIFT
CURRENTS
NORTH and SOUTH EQUATORIAL CURRENTS
due to the TRADE WINDS.
NORTH ATLANTIC and NORTH PACIFIC CURRENTS
due to the WESTERLIES.

THE The
EKMAN
SPIRAL
EKMAN
SPIRAL refers to a
structure of currents or winds
near a horizontal boundary in
which the flow direction rotates
as one moves away from the
boundary.
It derives its name from the
Swedish
oceanographer Vagn Ekman.
The
deflection of surface currents
was
first
noticed
by
the
Norwegian
oceanographer
Fridtjof
Nansen
during
an
expedition. (1893-1896).
The effect is a consequence of
the

Thus when the wind blows on


the ocean surface in the
Northern
Hemisphere,
the
surface current moves to the
right of the wind.

THE EKMAN SPIRAL

As the water at the surface


pushes on water below it, this
water moves yet further to the
right of the wind, and so on.
As the current deflects, the
velocity
becomes progressively weaker.
The depth to which the Ekman
spiral
penetrates is determined by
how far
turbulent mixing can penetrate

THE EKMAN SPIRAL


The classic Ekman spiral has
been observed under sea ice,
but is not found in most openocean conditions.
This is due both to the fact
that the turbulent mixing in
the surface layer of the ocean
has a strong diurnal cycle and
to the fact that surface waves
can destabilize the Ekman
spiral.
Ekman spirals are, however,
found in the atmosphere.
Surface winds in the Northern
Hemisphere tend to blow to
the left of winds aloft.

THE EKMAN SPIRAL

The diagram on the right shows


the forces associated with the
Ekman spiral.
The force from above is in red
(beginning
with
the
wind
blowing over the water surface),
The Coriolis force (at right
angles to the force from above)
is in dark yellow.
The
net
resultant
water
movement is in pink, which then
becomes the force from above
for
the
layer
below
it,
accounting
for
the
gradual
clockwise spiral motion as you

EKMAN TRANSPORT,
EKMAN TRANSPORT, is the natural process by which wind
causes movement of water near the ocean surface. Each
layer of water in the ocean drags with it the layer beneath.
Thus the movement of each layer of water is affected by
the movement of the layer above, or below in the case of a
frictional bottom boundary layer.
It is obtained by vertically integrating the Ekman spiral.
Because of the Coriolis effect, the ocean's surface
movement is 45 to the right of direction of surface wind
in the Northern Hemisphere, and 45 to the left in the
Southern Hemisphere.
The average movement of ocean water at all depths (and
thus the Ekman transport) is 90 to the right of the wind in
the Northern Hemisphere, and 90 to the left in the
Southern Hemisphere.
If such a current transports water away from a coast, it
creates an UPWELLING of deep, nutrient-rich sea water.
This has the effect of creating good fishing regions along
coasts where this phenomenon occurs.

THE EKMAN TRANSPORT

THE
EKMAN
SPIRAL
describes
how
the
horizontal
wind
sets
surface waters in motion
as
represented
by
horizontal
vectors
the
speed and direction of

When viewed from above in


the Northern Hemisphere,
the surface layer of water
moves at
45 to the right of the wind.
The net transport of water
through the entire winddriven
column
(Ekman
transport) is 90 to the

GRADIENT CURRENTS
1. These are caused by Pressure Gradients in the water.
2. They occur whenever water surface develops a slope
due to the following:a) Under the action of wind OR
b) Through a juxtaposition of waters of different
temperatures and / or Salinity

P=hdg
where h is variation of water
column
height, d is variation of
water density
and g is constant.
3. Initial water surface develops a slope which is downwar
Then the Coriolis force action will deflect it.
EXAMPLE
OF
GRADIENT
CURRENTS
CURRENTS in the BAY OF BENGAL during FEBRUARY
Nly CURRENT along EAST COAST of AFRICA in the

GRADIENT CURRENTS
IN NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

CO
F

PG
F
GR
A
CU DIE
RR NT
EN
T

B
PRESSURE at
A>B
PG
F

GR
CU ADIE
RR NT
EN
T

CO
F

A
B
IN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

COMPLEX CURRENTS

1. In terms of basic causes the two types viz. DRIFT CUR


and GRADIENT CURRENT can be distinguished.
In actual practice the currents encountered are comp
2. In many cases WIND DRIFT CURRENT is SUPER
IMPOSED upon a GRADIENT CURRENT (due to
Temperature and Salinity differences). The resulting
current is a combination
of these two effects.
EXAMPLE
OF
CURRENTS

COMPLEX

BENEGUELA CURRENT, CALIFORNIA CURRENT


etc.

CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS
1. Currents vary considerably from one occasion to another
in, both,
SPEED and DIRECTION.
2. The variation of currents ( winds variability) is
understandable. It
varies even when wind is blowing steadily.
3. The variations over coastlines and open sea also show
certain
characteristics which are typical of areas.
4. There is, in general, a close relation between the large
scale
patterns of prevailing currents in the oceans and
corresponding
patterns of the prevailing winds. Examples in NORTH
NORTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT - N E ly TRADE WINDS
ATLANTIC:
SETTING WESTWARDS
NORTH ATLANTIC CURRENT
variable

- WESTERLY WINDS

STRENGTH OF CURRENT
1. In Middle and Higher latitudes over large open
ocean areas the frequently reported speed of
current is knot. Individual reports vary between
NIL and 1 knot.
2. In certain other regions the general level of speed is
higher and
there are extremes also. For example:
EQUATORIAL REGIONS
MEAN SPEED is in
the (MID PACIFIC and WESTERN ATLANTIC) range 1 1 knots.
SPEEDS > 3 knots
have
also been
reported.
In FLORIDA STRAIT
KNOTS
SOMALI CURRENT

SPEEDS 5
SPEEDS

WARM and COLD CURRENTS

1. Currents which set continuously EASTWARDS or


WEST -WARDS acquire Temperatures appropriate
to that LATITUDE concerned.

2.

Currents
which
set
NORTHWARDS
or
SOUTHWARDS over long distances transport water
from higher to lower latitudes or vice-versa.

3. Thus they ADVECT lower or higher Temperatures


from the region of origin.

WARM and COLD CURRENTS

4. A WARM CURRENT is one whose water mass


Temperature is MORE than that is expected for
that latitude.
5. A COLD CURRENT is one whose water mass
Temperature is LESS than that is expected for that
latitude.
6. However, some COLD CURRENTS are not simply
due to advection from lower latitudes but largely
due to UPWELLING of SUB SURFACE WATER.
7. WARM CURRENTS are
often found on the
WESTERN SHORES of the oceans and COLD
CURRENTS are found on the EASTERN SHORES of
the oceans.

UPWELLING

UPWELLING is an oceanographic phenomenon that


involves wind-driven motion of dense, cooler, and
usually nutrient-rich sub surface water towards the
ocean surface, replacing the warmer, usually
nutrient-depleted surface water.
There are at least five types of upwelling:
1. Coastal upwelling.
2. Large-scale wind-driven upwelling in the ocean
interior.
3. Upwelling associated with eddies.
4. Topographically-associated upwelling.
5. Broad-diffusive upwelling in the ocean interior.

UPWELLING
Regions of upwelling include Coastal Peru, Chile,
Arabian Sea, Western South Africa, Eastern New
Zealand and the Californian Coast.
Eg. BENEGUELA CURRENT OFF SW AFRICA.
Coast is oriented NNW SSE.
Prevailing wind is
SEly.
Wind action produces surface current roughly
towards West (30 to left of the direction towards
which wind is blowing).
Indirect effect (accounting for subsurface layer)
Gradient
SW
to NESW.
leads to Gradient Current
transportsfrom
water
towards
setting NWly (90to the left of NE).
The above action removes water from coastline due
to current WNWly flowing out.
This water is replaced by water from sub surface
which is colder to the Sea Sub Surface Temperature of

The Thermohaline Circulation (THC) is the global density-driven


circulation of the oceans. Derivation is from thermo- for
temperature and -haline for salt, which together determine the
density of sea water.
Wind-driven surface currents (such as the Gulf Stream) head
pole wards from the Equatorial Atlantic ocean, cooling all the

This dense water then flows into the ocean basins. While the
bulk of it UPWELLS in the Southern ocean, the oldest waters
(with a transit time of around 1600 years) UPWELL in the North
Pacific.
Extensive mixing therefore takes place between the ocean
basins, reducing differences between them and making the

On their journey, the water masses transport both energy (in


the form of heat) and matter (solids, dissolved substances
and gases) around the globe. As such, the state of the
circulation has a large impact on the climate of the Earth.
The THERMOHALINE circulation is sometimes called the ocean
conveyor belt, and most commonly, the Meridional
Overturning Circulation (often abbreviated as MOC).

PRINCIPAL WARM and COLD WORLD OCEAN


CURRENTS
WARM CURRENTS
COLD CURRENTS
GULF STREAM
KUROSHIO CURRENT
BRAZIL CURRENT
MOZAMBIQUE
CURRENT
AGHULAS CURRENT
EAST AUSTRALIAN
CURRENT

LABRADOR CURRENT
EAST GREENLAND
CURRENT
KAMACHATKA CURRENT
OYASHIO CURRENT
FALKLAND CURRENT
WEST AUSTRALIAN
CURRENT

COLD CURRENTS (UPWELLING)


BENEGUELA CURRENT, CANARY CURRENT,
CALIFORNIAN CURRENT, and HUMBOLDT
(PERU) CURRENT.

GYRE

A GYRE is any manner of swirling vortex. (A


vortex is a spinning, often turbulent, flow of
fluid. Any spiral motion with closed stream lines
is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling
rapidly around a center is called a vortex. The
speed and rate of rotation of the fluid are
greatest at the center, and decrease
progressively with distance from the center).
It is often used to describe large-scale wind or
ocean currents. GYRES are caused by the
Coriolis effect.

THE EARTH'S FIVE MAJOR OCEANS GYRES

North
Atlantic

North
Pacific
Indian
Ocean

South
Pacific

South
Atlantic

Each of these gyre is flanked by a strong and narrow


WESTERN BOUNDARY CURRENT, and a weak and
broad EASTERN BOUNDARY CURRENT.

THE EARTH'S OCEANS MAJOR GYRES


NORTH ATLANTIC GYRE
NORTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT
GULF STREAM
NORTH ATLANTIC CURRENT
CANARY CURRENT

NORTH PACIFIC GYRE


NORTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT
KUROSHIO CURRENT
NORTH PACIFIC CURRENT
CALIFORNIA CURRENT

SOUTH ATLANTIC GYRE

SOUTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT


BRAZIL CURRENT
ANTARCTIC CIRCUMPOLAR CURRENT
BENGUELA CURRENT

SOUTH PACIFIC GYRE

SOUTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT


EAST AUSTRALIAN CURRENT
ANTARCTIC CIRCUMPOLAR CURRENT
HUMBOLDT CURRENT
TASMAN OUTFLOW

INDIAN OCEAN GYRE


SOUTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT
AGULHAS CURRENT
ANTARCTIC CIRCUMPOLAR CURRENT
WEST AUSTRALIAN CURRENT

THE MAJOR OCEAN CURRENTS OF THE WORLD

THE MAJOR OCEAN CURRENTS OF THE WORLD

THE FLOW PATTERN OF THE


MAJOR SUB SURFACE OCEAN
CURRENTS

NEAR SURFACE WARM CURRENTS

DEEP COLD CURRENTS

Note how this system is continuously moving water from


the surface to deep within the oceans and back to the top

THE NORTH ATLANTIC GYRE, A CLOCKWISE- SWIRLING


VORTEX OF OCEAN CURRENTS IN THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC
OCEAN

THE NORTH EQUATORIAL


CURRENT
The North Equatorial
Current
is
a
significant Pacific and
Atlantic Current that
flows EAST- to - WEST
between about 10
and 20 North.
It is the Southern side
of
a
clockwise
subtropical gyre.
Despite its name, the
North
Equatorial
Current
is
not
connected
to
the
equator.

THE NORTH EQUATORIAL


CURRENT
In both oceans, it is
separated from the
Equatorial circulation
by
the
North
Equatorial
Countercurrent,
which flows Eastward.
The Westward surface
flow at the Equator in
both oceans is part of
the South Equatorial
Current.

GULF STREAM
The Gulf Stream together
with its northern extension
towards Europe, the North
Atlantic Drift, is a powerful,
warm, and swift Atlantic
ocean current.
It originates in the Gulf of
Mexico, exits through the
Strait
of
Florida,
and
follows
the
eastern
coastlines of the US and
Newfoundland
before
crossing
the
Atlantic
Ocean.
At about 40N, 30W, it
splits in two, with the
northern stream crossing to
northern Europe and the

GULF STREAM

The Gulf Stream influences the climate of the east


coast of North America from Florida to Newfoundland,
and the west coast of Europe. Typically, the Gulf
Stream is 80150km wide and 800 1200m deep. The
current velocity is fastest near the surface, with the
maximum speed typically about 2.5 m/s (approx. 4.9
knots).

As it travels North, the


warm water transported by
the Gulf Stream undergoes
evaporative cooling which
is wind driven. In this
process, the salinity and
density of water increases
but
its
temperature
decreases.
These
two
processes produce denser
and colder water.

GULF STREAM

In
the
North
Atlantic
ocean, the water becomes
so dense that it begins to
sink down through less
salty and less dense water.
This downdraft of heavy,
cold
and
dense
water
becomes a part of the

LABRADOR CURRENT
The Labrador Current
is a cold current of the
North Atlantic ocean
which flows from the
Arctic
ocean,
south
along the coast of
Labrador and passes
around Newfoundland,
continuing south along
the east coast of Nova
Scotia.
It is a continuation of
the West Greenland
Current and the Baffin
Island Current.

LABRADOR CURRENT

It meets the WARM


GULF STREAM at the
Grand Banks southeast
of Newfoundland and
again north of the Outer
Banks of North Carolina.
The
combination
of
these
two
currents
produces
heavy
fogs
and also created one of
the
richest
fishing
grounds in the world.
In spring and early
summer, this current
transports
icebergs
from the glaciers of
Greenland
southwards
into the trans -Atlantic

THE NORTH ATLANTIC CURRENT


The North Atlantic Current
(North Atlantic Drift and
the North Atlantic Sea
Movement) is a powerful
warm ocean current that
continues the Gulf stream
North East. West of Ireland
it splits in two.
One branch (the Canary
Current) goes South while
the other continues north
along the coast of North
Western Europe where it
has a considerable warming
influence on the climate.
One of the other branches
includes
the
Norwegian
current.

CURRENTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN


SEA
The evaporation of water is
high which cannot be made up
by the in-flowing rivers. This
reduces the level of water and
so the water at higher level
from the Atlantic ocean flows
into the Mediterranean Sea
through
the
Strait
of
Gibraltar.
This flow is deflected to the
right due to Coriolis force and
flows Southwards towards
the African coast. Ultimately
it forms an anti -clockwise
current.
Due
to
evaporation
the
Salinity
and,
hence,
the
Density of water increases
which causes the water to
sink and flow as sub surface
current through the Gibraltar

CURRENT IN THE BLACK


SEA
For similar reasons as in the Mediterranean Sea, a
sub surface current flows from the Mediterranean Sea
to Black Sea through the Sea of Marmara and
Bosporus and Dardanelles canals.

In the Black Sea the flow of current is anti-clockwise


and
a
surface
current
flows
out
towards

CANARY CURRENT
The Canary Current is an
ocean
current
which
branches South from the
North Atlantic Current
and flows toward the
South-West about as far
as Senegal where it
turns West.
The cool temperature is
caused by the upwelling
by the current. Major
upwelling
occurs
between 23 - 25 N.
The general Southward
movement of the ocean
circulation is due to this

THE SOUTH ATLANTIC GYRE, A CLOCKWISE- SWIRLING


VORTEX OF OCEAN CURRENTS IN THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC
OCEAN

THE SOUTH EQUATORIAL


CURRENT
The South Equatorial
Current (SEC) is a
significant
Pacific,
Atlantic
and
Indian
Ocean
current
that
flows E-to-W between
the Equator and about
20 S. In the Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans, it
extends
across
the
equator to about 5N.
Within the Southern
Hemisphere, the SEC is
the Westward limb of
the very large-scale
subtropical gyres.

THE SOUTH EQUATORIAL


These gyres are driven
CURRENT
by the combination of
Trade Winds in the
Tropics and Wly winds
that are found South of
about 30 S.
(complicated process).
On the Equator, the SEC
is driven directly by the
Trade Winds ( blow from
E to W).
In the Indian Ocean, SEC
is well-developed only
south of the Equator.
Directly on the Equator,
the winds reverse twice a
year
due
to
the
monsoons.
So
the
surface current can be
either
Eastward
or

BENGUELA
The
CURRENT

BENGUELA CURRENT
flows from the Western
coast
of
South
Africa,
Namibia
and
Angola
towards N and NW up to the
line where it joins the
Southern Equatorial Current
which is already a Warm
Current.
This
current
is
COLD
because of UPWELLING. The
deep
waters
moving
upward is increased by the
Southern
Trade
Winds
blowing West from the
Kalahari Desert towards the
ocean
and
creates
a
displacement of top African
coast ocean waters to the
West . The deep waters

BRAZIL
It is
CURRENT

WARM CURRENT
flowing South along the
Brazilian South coast.
This current is caused by
diversion of a portion of
the
Atlantic
South
Equatorial Current from
where that current meets
the
South
American
continent.
It is a Western boundary
current
like
the
Gulf
Stream. It is its southern
counterpart; however, it
is considerably shallower
and weaker.
It
flows
South
from
Equator to the West Wind

THE ANTARCTIC CIRCUMPOLAR CURRENT


The
Antarctic
Circumpolar
Current (ACC) is an ocean
current that flows from West
to East around Antarctica.
An alternate name for the ACC
is the WEST WIND DRIFT.
The ACC is the dominant
circulation feature of the
Southern Ocean.
It keeps warm ocean waters
away
from
Antarctica,
enabling that continent to
maintain its huge ice sheet.
The ACC has been known to
sailors for the difficulty it
caused to mariners seeking to
round Cape Horn on the
clipper ship route between

NORTH PACIFIC GYRE, A CLOCKWISE-SWIRLING


VORTEX OF OCEAN CURRENTS COMPRISING MOST OF
THE
NORTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN

KUROSHIO
CURRENT
The
KUROSHIO
CURRENT (Japanese for
"Black Tide") is the
world's second largest
ocean current, after the
Antarctic
Circumpolar
Current.
It begins in the Western
Pacific ocean off the
East coast of Taiwan
and
flows
North
Eastward past Japan,
where it merges with
the Easterly Drift of the
North Pacific Current.

KUROSHIO
CURRENT
It is analogous to the
Gulf Stream in the
Atlantic
ocean,
transporting
warm,
tropical
water
Northward towards the
polar region.
Its counterparts are the
North Pacific Current to
the
North,
the
California Current to
the East, and the North
Equatorial Current to
the South.
The branch into the Sea
of
Japan
is
called
Tsushima Current.

THE NORTH PACIFIC CURRENT (NORTH PACIFIC


DRIFT)

The NORTH PACIFIC CURRENT is a slow warm water


current that flows West-to-East between 40 and 50 N
in the Pacific Ocean.
The North Pacific Current forms the Northern part of
the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.
In the Eastern North Pacific, it splits into the
southward California Current and the northward
Alaska Current.

THE NORTH PACIFIC CURRENT (NORTH PACIFIC


DRIFT)

The KAMCHATKA CURRENT


(also known as the Oyayisho
current) is a cold current
flowing SW from the Bering
Strait, along the Siberian
Pacific
coast
and
the
Kamchatka
Peninsula.
A
portion of this current then
becomes the Oyashio Current
while the remainder joins the

The North Pacific Current is


formed by the collision of
the
Kuroshio
Current,
running Northward off the
coast of Japan, and the
Oyashio Current, which is a
cold Sub Arctic Current
that
flows
South
and
circulates
counter
clockwise
along
the
Western
North
Pacific
Ocean.

CALIFORNIA CURRENT

The California Current is a Pacific Ocean Current that


moves South along the Western coast of North America.
It is a type of current known as an Eastern Boundary
Current and is part of the North Pacific Gyre, The
movement of Northern waters Southward makes the
waters cooler on the US East coast.
Additionally, extensive Upwelling of colder sub-surface
waters occurs, caused by the prevailing NWly winds cools
the already cool California Current. This is the mechanism
which produces coastal California's characteristic fog.

THE SOUTH PACIFIC GYRE, A CLOCKWISE-SWIRLING


VORTEX OF OCEAN CURRENTS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
OCEAN

EAST AUSTRALIAN CURRENT


The
East
Australian
Current (EAC) is an ocean
current that moves warm
water in a counter clockwise fashion down the
East coast of Australia.
It is the largest ocean
current
close
to
the
shores of Australia. Its
source is the tropical
Coral Sea off the NorthEast coast of Australia.
It can reach speeds of up to 7 knots in some of the
shallower waters along the Australian continental
shelf, but is generally measured at 2 or 3 knots. The
EAC results in a current vortex in the Tasman Sea
between Australia and New Zealand.

HUMBOLDT (PERU) CURRENT

LARGE MARINE ECOSYSTEM (LME), NAMED AFTER THE PRUSSIAN NATURALIST ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT

The HUMBOLDT CURRENT is a


COLD, low salinity current that
goes in a N-W to N-E extending
along the West Coast of South
America from Northern Peru to
the Southern tip of Chile.
The current flows in the
direction of the Equator and
can extend 1,000 kms offshore.
It is one of the major Upwelling
systems of the world.
Upwelling occurs off Peru yearround but off Chile only during
the
spring
and
summer,
because of the displacement of
the subtropical center of high
pressure during the summer.

THE INDIAN OCEAN GYRE - A CLOCKWISE-SWIRLING VORTEX OF


OCEAN CURRENTS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

CURRENTS IN THE BAY OF BENGAL DURING


FEBRUARY
Cold winds in Northern part of Bay of Bengal cools the
surface water, thereby increasing its density.
It sinks below and warmer water from the Southern
part of the Bay flows Northwards to replace it.
The current flows North along the East coast of India,
gets deflected to the right by Coriolis force and flows
in an Easterly direction thus creating a CLOCKWISE
CURRENT in the Bay. This is opposed to the anticlockwise current which prevails during the NE
Monsoon (Oct/Nov).
Hence the CLOCKWISE CURRENT flow
AGAINST the
PREVAILING WINDS.

AGHULAS CURRENT

The AGHULAS CURRENT is the


Western Boundary Current of
the S-W Indian Ocean and is
part of the Westward flowing
South Equatorial Current.

It flows down the East coast of


Africa from 27S to 40S. It is
narrow, swift and strong.
The sources of the Aghulas
Current
are
the
East
Madagascar
Current,
the
Mozambique Current and a
reticulated part of the Aghulas
Current itself.
In the SE Atlantic Ocean the
current (turns back on itself),
and enters the flow of the
Benguela Current.

WATER MASS BODIES OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN

CHARTING OF CURRENTS
Ocean currents may be depicted a variety of ways to
suit various requirements. In some parts of the world
the variation of the current according to the time of
the year is sufficiently small to justify the production
of a mean annual chart showing the general
circulation.
In most regions, however, it is necessary to
distinguish between the different times of the year,
preferably by means of separate charts for each
month. Some of the most meaningful forms of
representation
require
a
large
number
of
observations.
For this reason it has often been necessary to
combine monthly observations into three-monthly
periods because of the lack of sufficient observations
to justify a monthly representation.

CHARTING OF CURRENTS

Whatever the period chosen (MONTHLY, SEASONAL


or ANNUAL), there are THREE forms of display which
are most commonly used. These are:

THE VECTOR MEAN


CURRENT
THE PRE-DOMINANT
CURRENT
THE CURRENT ROSE

Of these the first two represent different kinds of


average current, while the third is in fact a
frequency distribution which shows the relative
frequency of reports in each direction and of
specified speed ranges within each direction.

CHARTING OF CURRENTS
PERIOD OF CHARTS

1.If in a particular region the variation in the curre


according to the time of the year, is considerable
usually MONTHLY CHARTS are produced.

2. If, however, the number of observations availabl


that region are not enough then charts for 3 MON
DURATION may be produced.

3. If the variation in the current in the region is suffi


small then ANNUAL CHARTS are used for the purp

VECTOR MEAN CHART

For a given region, during a


given period, i.e. Monthly,
Periodically or Annually, a
number
of
current
DIRECTIONS
and SPEEDS are recorded.
From these observations
a
MEAN
DIRECTION
and
SPEED
is obtained.
An ARROW is plotted in
that
region
of
the
chart
showing

VECTOR MEAN CHART


The mean speed of the
current is indicated as
follows:
a) Length and thickness
of arrow indicates a
range of
speed as tabulated on
the chart.
b) The actual mean speed
as calculated is written
above
the arrow and the
number of
observations on which
it is based is written
below the arrow.

VECTOR MEAN CHART


Such a chart will not
indicate
the ACTUAL DIRECTION
and
SPEED of the current at
In any
fact the actual speed
given
maydate or time.
be
substantially
more
than
what is show as mean
value
and
the
ACTUAL
DIRECTION
This
chart gives an idea
also
may
vary
of the
considerably
overall
movement
of
from
the
MEAN
water
DIRECTION.
over
a long period. This
would

PREDOMINANT CURRENT CHART


Sectors of 90 are drawn
at a
given place on the chart,
each
overlapping the other by
15.
All current observations
for a
The
sector
having
the
given
period
are plotted
greatest
at
number
of observations
that place.
becomes
the PRE-DOMINANT SECTOR.
The CENTRAL DIRECTION of
the
pre-dominant sector will be
the
PRE-DOMINANT DIRECTION
of
CURRENT for that place, for

PREDOMINANT CURRENT CHART


The PRE-DOMINANT SPEED of
current will be the MEAN of
the
SPEEDS
of
those
observations
which fall within the predominant
The
percentage
the
sector.
This will be of
written
number of
against
observations
which
fall
the
ARROW.
within the
PRE-DOMINANT SECTOR to
the
total number of observations
made at that place, indicates
the
This
chart shows
the most
consistency
of the current
at
likely
that
DIRECTION
of the
place. This and
will SPEED
be indicated
CURRENT
for the given
by the

CURRENT ROSE
A circle is drawn on the chart,
encompassing a particular
region
where a large number of
recording
of observations have made.
The circle is divided into 16
sectors
of 22
each orof8the
sectors
of
The
DIRECTION
current
45
is
each,
without
overlap.
recorded
in any
compass
point
and
indicated
by
an
ARROW
starting
radially from the center of the
circle, along the mid-point of
the sector.
Hence
there will be
or 8
The LENGTH
OF 16EACH
arrows
ARROW
equally spaced around the
indicates
the
total
circle.

frequency of

CURRENT ROSE
The thickness of each
ARROW indicates the
range
of SPEED in n miles /
day as
Each
ARROW
subtabulated
on the is
chart.
divided
into lengths of different
thickness to indicate the
frequency
of
observations of
The totalspeed
number
of
different
ranges.
observations made for
a
given period, and the
frequency
of
the
current of
speed
less
than
6

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