North Pacific Drift
Also called: North Pacific Current · Topic: Movements of Ocean Water: Waves, Tides and Currents · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 13 "Movements of Ocean Water"
Meaning
The North Pacific Drift, also called the North Pacific Current, is a warm, slow ocean current that flows east across the North Pacific. It carries on from the Kuroshio Current after the Kuroshio leaves Japan. The westerly winds push it east. It forms the northern arm of the clockwise current loop of the North Pacific. It carries heat from the western Pacific towards North America.
Example
Near the west coast of North America, the North Pacific Drift splits into two. The cold California Current flows south along California. The warm Alaska Current flows north and keeps southern Alaskan ports free of ice.
Don't confuse with
- North Atlantic Drift: it is the warm extension of the Gulf Stream across the Atlantic. It keeps Britain and Norway mild. The North Pacific Drift is in the Pacific.