π Topic 03 of 6 Β· Chapter 11 Β· World Physical Geography
Ocean Currents of the World
Warm currents (Gulf Stream, Kuroshio), cold currents (Labrador, Benguela) β complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
π Major Ocean Currents
| Current | Type | Ocean | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Stream | Warm | Atlantic | Keeps Western Europe warm; flows from Gulf of Mexico to NW Europe |
| North Atlantic Drift | Warm | Atlantic | Extension of Gulf Stream; keeps UK and Norway ice-free in winter |
| Kuroshio Current | Warm | Pacific | “Japan Current”; keeps Japan’s coast warm; Pacific equivalent of Gulf Stream |
| Labrador Current | Cold | Atlantic | Flows from Arctic; causes fog off Newfoundland (Canada) |
| Benguela Current | Cold | Atlantic | Off SW Africa; causes Namib Desert |
| Humboldt (Peru) Current | Cold | Pacific | Off South America; rich fishing grounds; El NiΓ±o disrupts it |
| Canary Current | Cold | Atlantic | Off NW Africa; contributes to Sahara Desert |
| California Current | Cold | Pacific | Off California coast; causes fog in San Francisco |
β El NiΓ±o & La NiΓ±a:
β’ El NiΓ±o = warming of Pacific near Peru = weakens Indian monsoon = drought risk in India
β’ La NiΓ±a = cooling of Pacific = strengthens Indian monsoon = good rainfall
β’ ENSO = El NiΓ±o Southern Oscillation = combined phenomenon
β’ Positive IOD = western Indian Ocean warmer = good monsoon for India
β’ Major El NiΓ±o years: 1982-83, 1997-98, 2015-16, 2023
β’ El NiΓ±o = warming of Pacific near Peru = weakens Indian monsoon = drought risk in India
β’ La NiΓ±a = cooling of Pacific = strengthens Indian monsoon = good rainfall
β’ ENSO = El NiΓ±o Southern Oscillation = combined phenomenon
β’ Positive IOD = western Indian Ocean warmer = good monsoon for India
β’ Major El NiΓ±o years: 1982-83, 1997-98, 2015-16, 2023