Equatorial Countercurrent
E41159
The Equatorial Countercurrent is an eastward-flowing ocean current found near the equator that runs between the westward-flowing North and South Equatorial Currents in the world’s major oceans.
Observed surface forms (3)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| North Equatorial Countercurrent | 2 |
| Equatorial Counter Current | 1 |
| Equatorial Countercurrent in the Indian Ocean | 1 |
Statements (42)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
ocean current
ⓘ
surface current ⓘ |
| affects |
marine ecosystems in equatorial regions
ⓘ
nutrient distribution near the equator ⓘ |
| boundedBy |
North Equatorial Current (regional)
ⓘ
surface form:
North Equatorial Current
South Equatorial Current ⓘ |
| characterizedBy |
low salinity compared to surrounding currents
ⓘ
relatively warm water ⓘ |
| contributesTo | eastward transport of warm water across ocean basins ⓘ |
| drivenBy |
pressure gradient
ⓘ
trade winds ⓘ |
| flowsBetween |
North Equatorial Current (regional)
ⓘ
surface form:
North Equatorial Current
South Equatorial Current ⓘ |
| flowsDirection | eastward ⓘ |
| hasAlternateName |
Equatorial Countercurrent
ⓘ
surface form:
Equatorial Counter Current
|
| hasAverageSpeed | on the order of 0.2 to 1 m/s ⓘ |
| hasFlowLayer | upper ocean mixed layer ⓘ |
| hasFlowType | geostrophic current ⓘ |
| hasTypicalLatitudeRange |
about 2°N to 8°N in the Indian Ocean
ⓘ
about 3°N to 10°N in the Pacific and Atlantic ⓘ |
| helpsMaintain | equatorial sea level gradient ⓘ |
| influences |
equatorial heat transport
ⓘ
sea surface temperature distribution ⓘ tropical climate ⓘ |
| isInfluencedBy | Coriolis effect near the equator ⓘ |
| isMorePronouncedIn |
Atlantic Ocean
ⓘ
Pacific Ocean ⓘ |
| isOppositeTo | westward-flowing equatorial currents ⓘ |
| isStrongerIn | central and eastern parts of ocean basins ⓘ |
| isStrongerInSeason |
boreal fall
ⓘ
boreal summer ⓘ |
| isSubjectOf | physical oceanography research ⓘ |
| isWeakerIn | western parts of ocean basins ⓘ |
| locatedNear | equator ⓘ |
| occursIn |
Atlantic Ocean
ⓘ
Indian Ocean ⓘ Pacific Ocean ⓘ |
| partOf |
global ocean circulation
ⓘ
tropical ocean circulation ⓘ |
| relatedTo | Equatorial Undercurrent ⓘ |
| strengthenedDuring | certain phases of El Niño–Southern Oscillation ⓘ |
| weakenedDuring | certain phases of El Niño–Southern Oscillation ⓘ |
Referenced by (9)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Equatorial Countercurrent in the Indian Ocean
this entity surface form:
Equatorial Counter Current
this entity surface form:
North Equatorial Countercurrent
this entity surface form:
North Equatorial Countercurrent