18
Chemical Oceanography, 4th Edition
1.4.1 atlantic Ocean Waters
As shown in Figure 1.25, the upper water circulation of the Atlantic Ocean consists of two
gyres: (a) a clockwise gyre in the north and (b) a counterclockwise gyre in the south. In
the north, the gyre starts with the North Equatorial Current that is driven by the northeastern trade winds. It is joined by the South Equatorial Current and becomes the Antilles
Current off the West Indies. The Florida Current comes from waters that go through
the Yucatan and Gulf of Mexico (called the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current) and escapes
between Florida and Cuba into the Atlantic. The Gulf Stream is the northern extension of
the Florida Current, which joins with the Antilles Current. The flow of the Florida Current
waters is about 26 × 10 6 m 3 s –1 (26 Sv [Sverdrups]). The Antilles Current has a flow rate of
about 12 Sv, and the flow rate of the Gulf Stream off the Chesapeake Bay is about 80 Sv.
The North Atlantic Current is a continuation of the Gulf Stream. The Labrador Current
waters flow south out of the Labrador Sea. This cold, low- salinity water mixes with the
warm Gulf Stream water, causing a complicated mixing regime. Part of the North Atlantic
Current continues toward the Arctic and becomes the Norwegian Current. The remainder
goes south to complete the gyre. The waters flowing off the coast of Africa are called the
Canary Current.
In the South Atlantic, the counterclockwise gyre starts near the equator because of the
stress of the southeast trade winds, causing the South Equatorial Current to move toward
Air Sinks
at Poles
Air Rises
Air Sinks
Air Sinks
Air Rises
Air Rises
High Pressure
High Pressure
High Pressure
High Pressure
Low Pressure
Low Pressure
Low Pressure
Westerlies
Westerlies
Trades
Trades
Ferrel
Hadley
Polar
Figure 1.23
The major wind systems of the earth.
Chemical Oceanography, 4th Edition
1.4.1 atlantic Ocean Waters
As shown in Figure 1.25, the upper water circulation of the Atlantic Ocean consists of two
gyres: (a) a clockwise gyre in the north and (b) a counterclockwise gyre in the south. In
the north, the gyre starts with the North Equatorial Current that is driven by the northeastern trade winds. It is joined by the South Equatorial Current and becomes the Antilles
Current off the West Indies. The Florida Current comes from waters that go through
the Yucatan and Gulf of Mexico (called the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current) and escapes
between Florida and Cuba into the Atlantic. The Gulf Stream is the northern extension of
the Florida Current, which joins with the Antilles Current. The flow of the Florida Current
waters is about 26 × 10 6 m 3 s –1 (26 Sv [Sverdrups]). The Antilles Current has a flow rate of
about 12 Sv, and the flow rate of the Gulf Stream off the Chesapeake Bay is about 80 Sv.
The North Atlantic Current is a continuation of the Gulf Stream. The Labrador Current
waters flow south out of the Labrador Sea. This cold, low- salinity water mixes with the
warm Gulf Stream water, causing a complicated mixing regime. Part of the North Atlantic
Current continues toward the Arctic and becomes the Norwegian Current. The remainder
goes south to complete the gyre. The waters flowing off the coast of Africa are called the
Canary Current.
In the South Atlantic, the counterclockwise gyre starts near the equator because of the
stress of the southeast trade winds, causing the South Equatorial Current to move toward
Air Sinks
at Poles
Air Rises
Air Sinks
Air Sinks
Air Rises
Air Rises
High Pressure
High Pressure
High Pressure
High Pressure
Low Pressure
Low Pressure
Low Pressure
Westerlies
Westerlies
Trades
Trades
Ferrel
Hadley
Polar
Figure 1.23
The major wind systems of the earth.