Brazil Current
Topic: Movements of Ocean Water: Waves, Tides and Currents · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 13 "Movements of Ocean Water"
Meaning
The Brazil Current is a warm ocean current that flows south along the east coast of Brazil. It is a branch of the South Equatorial Current, which turns south when it reaches South America. It forms the western arm of the anticlockwise current loop of the South Atlantic. It carries warm tropical water towards higher latitudes. This keeps the coast warm and rainy.
Example
The Brazil Current flows south past Rio de Janeiro. It meets the cold Falkland Current off the Río de la Plata, the wide estuary between Argentina and Uruguay. There, the warm and cold water mix.
Don't confuse with
- Falkland Current: it is cold and flows north along Argentina from the West Wind Drift. The Brazil Current is warm and flows south.
Related concepts
- Gulf Stream
- North Atlantic Drift
- Canary Current
- Sargasso Sea
- Labrador Current
- Falkland Current
- Benguela Current