Seas Adjacent to the North Atlantic
There are several
currents in seas adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean that are of considerable
importance.
 MEDITERRANEAN SEA. —There is a strong current in the Strait
of Gibraltar.
Here, the waters of the North Atlantic flow into the Mediterranean Sea in the
upper layers, and waters of the Mediterranean flow into the North Atlantic in
the lower layers. The outflowing waters are colder and have a higher salinity
than the waters flowing into the Mediterranean.
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 LABRADOR SEA AND BAFFIN BAY. — Waters of the North Atlantic Ocean enter
the Labrador Sea along the west coast of Greenland as the WEST GREENLAND CURRENT.
Some of this current flows
through the Davis Strait into Baffin Bay, while the remainder turns westward and
joins the LABRADOR CURRENT. The Labrador Current flows southward along the east
coast of Labrador. A portion of this current turns eastward and flows along the
northern border of the North Atlantic Drift. Another portion flows south along
the east coast of North America to the vicinity of Cape Hatteras.
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 CARIBBEAN SEA AND GULF OF MEXICO. —The strong westerly current that flows
through the Caribbean Sea and Yucatan Channel is a continuation of the southern
branch of the North Equatorial Current of the Atlantic Ocean. Two conspicuous
eddies accompany this current; one eddy is in the bay between Nicaragua and
Colombia, while the other is between Cuba and Jamaica. To the west of the
Yucatan Channel most of the main current turns east and joins the Florida
Current through the Florida Straits. Another portion flows into the Gulf of
Mexico, where pronounced eddies dominate the circulation. These eddies are
caused by the contours of the coast and the character of the Gulf floor.
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