Malvinas Current

E46812

The Malvinas Current is a cold, northward-flowing ocean current off the southeastern coast of South America, formed by subantarctic waters and strongly influencing the region’s climate and marine ecosystems.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Falkland Current 1

Statements (42)

Predicate Object
instanceOf cold current
ocean current
surface current
affects distribution of marine species in the Southwest Atlantic
sea surface temperature patterns in the South Atlantic
alternateName Malvinas Current
surface form: Falkland Current
associatedWith strong mesoscale eddies near the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence
upwelling processes
characterizedBy high nutrient content
contributesTo frontal systems in the Southwest Atlantic
flowsAlongCoastOf Argentina
southeastern South America
flowsDirection northward
flowsFromRegion subantarctic South Atlantic
flowsOver Patagonian Shelf
flowsPast Falkland Islands
flowsToRegion mid-latitude South Atlantic
formedBy Subantarctic Surface Water
formsFeature Brazil–Malvinas Confluence
formsOceanographicFeatureWith Brazil Current
hasSalinityCharacteristic relatively low salinity compared to subtropical waters
importantFor biogeochemical cycles in the Southwest Atlantic
influences Patagonian Shelf ecosystem
marine ecosystems off Argentina
regional climate of southeastern South America
sea surface height variability in the Southwest Atlantic
weather patterns over Patagonia
interactsWith South Atlantic subtropical gyre
surface form: Subtropical Gyre of the South Atlantic
isBoundaryCurrentOf Antarctic Circumpolar Current
surface form: Antarctic Circumpolar Current system
isWesternBoundaryCurrentOf subantarctic gyre in the South Atlantic
locatedInOcean South Atlantic
surface form: South Atlantic Ocean
meetsCurrent Brazil Current
monitoredBy Argo floats
oceanographic cruises
satellite altimetry
namedAfter Falkland Islands
surface form: Islas Malvinas
originatesFrom Antarctic Circumpolar Current
partOf Southwest Atlantic circulation system
supports high marine productivity
important fisheries
typicalTemperatureRange subantarctic water temperatures
waterTemperatureCharacteristic cold

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Malvinas Current alternateName Malvinas Current
this entity surface form: Falkland Current
Brazil Current meets Malvinas Current