Question

What is the proper order of current names in the North Atlantic gyre, beginning with the current found north of the equator, and proceeding in a clockwise direction around the Atlantic?

Answer 1

1. North Equatorial Current

2. Antilles Current

3. Florida Current

4. Gulf Stream

5. North Atlantic Drift

6. Canaries Current

Step-by-step explanation:

The North Atlantic gyre starts around the Equator, near the western coastline of equatorial Africa. The water warms up in this area and it starts to move toward northwest as the North Equatorial Current. As it reaches the Antilles Islands, this current changes its properties slightly, and becomes the Antilles Current entering into the Caribbean Sea. As the current circles the Caribbean sea and moves toward northeast it becomes the Florida Current. Once this current reaches the open Atlantic waters it becomes the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream moves in northeastern direction and as it gradually cools down it becomes the North Atlantic Drift which reaches the western coast of Europe. This current then splits in two, with one of them moving back to the place of origin of this gyre, becoming the Canaries Current, which is the coldest part of this gyre.