Equatorial Current

views updated Jun 27 2018

Equatorial Current An oceanic current which flows in an east-west direction in the equatorial regions of all the oceans. The broad (1000–5000 km) westward-flowing currents (North and South Equatorial Currents) are separated by a comparatively narrow eastward-flowing countercurrent (the Equatorial Counter-current). The flow tends to be limited to the upper 500 m of the water column and the velocity is 0.25–1.0 m/s. The strength and position of the equatorial currents are controlled by the overlying wind system.

Equatorial current

views updated May 08 2018

Equatorial current Oceanic current which flows in an east-west direction in the equatorial regions of all the oceans. The broad (1000–5000 km) westward-flowing currents (North and South equatorial currents) are separated by a comparatively narrow westward-flowing countercurrent (the Equatorial countercurrent). The flow tends to be limited to the upper 500m of the water column and the velocity is 0.25–1.0 m/s. The strength and position of the equatorial currents are controlled by the overlying wind system.