Meteorology

Ocean Currents
 Ocean Currents

An ocean current is any more or less permanent or

continuous, directed movement of ocean water that
flows in one of the Earth's oceans. The currents are
generated from the forces acting upon the water like
the earth's rotation, the wind, the temperature and
salinity differences and the gravitation of the moon.
Current may be defined simply as the horizontal
movement of the water.
Causes and kinds of Ocean Currents

At present the process that produce ocean currents

are not yet completely understood. However,
basing on many observations reported from the
time of the sailing ships to the present
oceanographers have found two main causes.
 Causes of Ocean Currents

o Wind Stress it is the force of the wind acting on

the water surface that makes the water to move.
The resulting effect is called as the wind drift
current.

o Water Pressure Gradients it is the difference in

pressure and density within the water. In the
regions of high density the water level is lower
than the area of low density;
o water tends to flow from the low density area with
a higher water surface, producing a Gradient
current. The global wind system has a direct
relationship to the current system of the oceans. In
this regard the general circulation of prevailing
currents in the oceans corresponds with the
general global wind circulation.
 Wind Drift Currents

 When the wind blows over the surface of the open

sea it imparts a dragging force on the uppermost
layer of the water that makes it move in the same
direction towards which the wind is blowing. As
soon as the water moves it is affected by the earth's
rotation so that its movement is deflected to the
right in the northern hemisphere; to the left in the
southern hemisphere.
 This is why the current generated (wind drift
currents) does not flow parallel to the wind but an
angle between 20° and 45° to the right of the wind
direction in the northern hemisphere, to the left in
the southern hemisphere.
 An alternative name for the Wind Drift current is
called Antarctic Circumpolar Current
Gradient Currents (also called Stream current)

 It happens in the two adjacent areas of water that

have quite big difference in temperature the
resulting density difference causes a pressure
gradient in the water. The result is the horizontal
flow of water called gradient. As the water moves it
is deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere
in this case up to as much as 90° from its initial
direction; to the left in the southern hemisphere.
 As an example of this kind of current is the
eastward current in the Bay of Bengal in February;
another one is the warm Gulf Stream current
which is the most remarkable current of the ocean
that flows along the east coast of North America in
a north to north-eastward direction from Florida
towards Cape Hatteras.
 Characteristic of Ocean Current

Since majority of surface currents are caused by the

winds, they also vary in strength and direction as the
winds become variable or change in direction such
as the monsoon winds in the North Indian Ocean
causing a seasonal variation in the current. However,
recent findings indicate that there are significant
variations that occur even if the winds are relatively
constant. Stronger currents associated with water
temperature differences tend to have large variations
both in position and strength and have a tendency to
flow in a winding way such as the Gulf Stream.
 In the open sea in regions where winds are variable,
the current may flow with variable speeds in any
direction in a certain area, while in another area the
set (direction) may be more or less steady. The set
(direction towards where the current is flowing) of the
current is determined by connecting the dead
reckoning position with a line towards the fix and
referring this line to the compass rose gives the set.
The drift (speed of the current) is obtained by
measuring distance in n. miles between the D.R.
position and the fix and dividing it by the time interval
in hours from a last fix gives the drift in knots.
 The accuracy of this procedure depends on a good
D.R position, that is, all considerations except
currents were applied * and of course the accuracy of
the fix. The time interval should be between 12 and
24 hours in order to have a reasonable result.
 Evaporation on Currents

Formation of some currents are partly caused by a

high rate of evaporation of the water in enclosed
shallow bodies of water with only one opening such
as the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Because
of the high rate of evaporation the surface level is
lowered and this causes the water from the open sea
to flow inward because water seeks its own level,
thus a current is formed in a strait (narrow opening
concerning the water in the enclosed area to the
open sea).
 Observation of Ocean Current

Early navigators from the time of Columbus and

Vasco da Gamma had experienced the effects of
ocean currents and so did the others following them.
Their observations of the currents were recorded in
the ships logbooks, which later used by Lt. M. F.
Maury of the U.S Navy. He published his well-known
wind and current charts in 1845. The early charts on
currents were based on plotting current observations
from logbooks of ships that make ocean crossings.
 The method now used in observing ocean surface
currents is by comparing the dead reckoning
position with a "fix", (the position obtained by stellar
observation or by cross bearings of known
landmarks or GPS plotted on the chart).
He was nicknamed
"Pathfinder of the Seas"
and "Father of Modern
Oceanography and
Naval Meteorology" and
later, "Scientist of the
Seas" for his extensive
works in his books,
especially The Physical
Geography of the Sea
(1855), the first such
extensive and
comprehensive book on
oceanography to be
published. Maury made
many important new
contributions to charting
winds and ocean
currents, including
Matthew Fontaine Maury
ocean lanes for passing
ships at sea.
Ocean Currents
 Charting Ocean Currents

Charting surface currents involves numerous

observations for long periods since the direction and
speed of most currents change with the seasons and
the speed and direction of the wind. For this reason
some charts of currents are made for each month,
some are seasonal (for three month periods) and
others annual. The current direction and speed are
displayed on the charts in three forms, namely: the
vector mean current, the predominant current and
the current rose.
The 3 types of Ocean Currents
Charting

VECTOR MEAN CURRENT

PREDOMINANT CURRENT

CURRENT ROSE
 The Vector Mean Current Chart

 Is shown on the charts as arrows towards the set

and the speed is according to the length and
thickness of the arrow. As the name implies the
current shown is the mean of all observed currents
in a given direction so that opposing directions
cancel each other out. The vector mean value
shows the average movement of the water for a
long period of time.
Vector Mean
Current

This chart is
useful when
determining
the
movement of
icebergs,
derelicts, etc.
for a long
period of
time.
 The Predominant Current Chart

 Shows the current that occurs most often in the

area observed and the current's set and drift are
indicated on the chart by means of arrows. The
frequency of the current is represented by the
thickness of the arrow and the figure beside it gives
the mean speed.
Predominant
Current Chart

Here arrow
indicates the
mean
current’s set
and figure
beside arrow
indicates the
mean speed
in knots.
 The Current Rose Chart

 Shows both the relative frequency of the set in each

direction of the compass and the frequency of each
range speed within each direction at a particular
place and time of the year. The current rose is most
useful to navigators.
 In order to know what current will be encountered
at a given place and time it is best to use the rose
chart and predominant current chart. In each of
the above current charts explanations are written
on how to interpret the arrows and symbols.
 The Current
Rose
Each arrow
extending from
the centre of rose
is subdivided, for
that reason the
relative
frequency of
observations
within various
speed categories
can be indicated.
 Importance of Ocean Currents

Information about ocean currents can be obtained

from several sources such as the Admiralty pilots.
Ocean passages for the World, Current Atlases and
other similar publications. The prudent shipmaster
always consults these sources of information when
planning a voyage because where currents are
involved it cannot be left to chance or guesswork.
 Many shipping accidents like running aground are
attributable to currents, Knowledge about currents
has also economic benefits because a vessel can
utilize a favorable current in order to shorten the
time of the voyage or, avoid it if unfavorable. For
instance a voyage from Manila to Panama involving
a distance of about 9,000 nautical miles is shortened
by two days if the vessel takes a route where the
equatorial counter current is located. A vessel bound
from Yokohama to Manila should pass South of
Okinawa in order to avoid the full strength of the
northeasterly Kuroshio Current north of it.
 Major Currents in the World

 In the North Atlantic Ocean the circulation is

clockwise, that is, northwest of Africa the Canary
current sets southwesterly then joins the westerly
North Equatorial current that turns to the
Northwest North of Haiti and Cuba thence joins
the northeasterly Gulf Stream that later partly sets
easterly to join the Canary current.
 The current in the South Atlantic Ocean mainly
circulates counter clockwise. The Benguela current
west of Africa sets north northwesterly then
between latitudes 155 and 5' Sit gradually turns
northwest then west and joins with the Brazil
current that sets southwesterly off the coast of
South -America and at Latitude 35's it turns
southeasterly and finally easterly to northeasterly
of Cape town then joins the Benguela current.
 The current in the North Indian Ocean including
the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal reverses in
"direction seasonally following the NE and SW
monsoons. From November to January when the
NE monsoon is blowing strongly the current
circulation is mainly counter clockwise in the
region bounded by India to the North, Africa to the
West, the Equatorial counter current to the south,
and Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula to the east.
 From February to April the current weakness and
in some areas becomes variable, as this is the
transition period to the strong SW monsoon when
the current reverses, that is it circulates clockwise
in direction from May to September. In the open
waters in this area the current sets easterly. The
speed of the current south of Socotra reaches up to
7 knots, which is the strongest ocean current in the
world in July to September.
 In the South Indian Ocean the main current
circulation is counter clockwise. The westerly
South Equatorial current forms the northern
boundary and to the south the easterly Southern
Ocean current at about latitude 35°S bound it.
 The flow of the current in the North Pacific Ocean
is clockwise with the following boundaries: the
western coast of USA to the east; The Philippines,
China and Japan to the west: between latitudes 35'
N and 45° N to the North; and the westerly North
Equatorial current to the south.
 In the South Pacific Ocean the current circulates
mainly in a counter clockwise direction. This area
is out of the main shipping lanes and on account of
its large size there is less current observation.
Northeast of New Zealand and east of Kermadec
Island, variable currents are reported.
The main warm currents of the world

 Gulf Stream, East Coast of North America, North

to North easterly set.
 Kuroshio, southeast of Japan, NE’ly set."
 Brazil current, east coast of Brazil, SW’ly set.
 East Australian current, east-coast of Australia,
S’ły set.
 Agulhas current, southeast coast of S. Africa, SW’ly
set.
 Mozambique current, Mozambique Channel, SWly
set.
 The main cold current of the world

 Kamchatka current, SE coast of Kamchatka, SW’ly set.

 California current, West coast of USA, SE’ly set.
 East Greenland current. Se coast of Greenland, SW'ly set.
 Labrador current. Ne coast of Canada, SE’ly set
 Falkland current, East coast of Argentina, NE’ly set
 Peru current, west coast of Chile and Peru, N to NW’ly
set.
 Benguela current, southwest of Africa, NW’ly set.
 Oya Shio, east of North Japan, SW’ly set.
 West Wind Drift - current that flows easterly around
Antarctica.
Warm and Cold Current
 Types of Ocean Currents

 Periodic Current - the speed and direction of the current,

which changes cyclonically at regular interval.
 Seasonal Current - it has large changes in speed or
direction due to seasonal wind.
 Permanent Current - experience relatively little periodic or
seasonal changes.
 Coastal Current-flow regularly parallel to a coast, outside
the surf zone.
 Long Shore Current - parallel to shore inside the surf zone
and generated by the wind striking the beach at an angle.
 Off Shore Current - any current some distance from the
shore.
 Inshore Current-any current close to the shore.
 Surface Current - one present at the surface that don't
extend more than a few ft. below the surface.
 Subsurface Current- one that is present below the surface.
 Counter Current - all secondary currents flowing adjacent
to the stream current but in the opposite direction.
 Eddy Current - local, roughly circular current which bring
about the so-called eddy.
 Drift Current - a broad, shallow, slow moving current.
 Stream Current - is a narrow, deep, fast moving current.
 Ocean Currents and Climate

Many of the ocean currents exert a marked influence

upon the climate of the coastal regions along which
they flow. Thus, warm water from the Gulf Stream,
continuing as the North Atlantic, Northeast Drift
and Irminger Currents arrives off the southwest
coast of Iceland, warming it to the extent that
Revjavik has a higher average winter temperature
than New York City, far to the south. Great Britain
and Labrador are about the same latitude, but the
climate of Great Britain is much milder because of
the difference of temperature of currents.
 The west coast of the United States is cooled in the
summer by the Californian Current, and warmed in
the winter by the Davidson Current. As a result of
this condition, partly, the range of monthly average
temperature is comparatively small.
Currents exercise other influences besides those on
temperature. The atmospheric pressure pattern is
affected materially, as air over cold current contracts
as it is cooled, and that over a warm current
expands.
END