West Australian Current
Topic: Movements of Ocean Water: Waves, Tides and Currents · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 13 "Movements of Ocean Water"
Meaning
The West Australian Current is a cold current that flows north along the west coast of Australia. It is the eastern side of the Indian Ocean's southern gyre, which turns anticlockwise. It begins as a branch of the West Wind Drift, the cold current that flows east around Antarctica. Cold water offshore cools the air above it. Cool air holds little moisture and is stable, so it brings little rain. This makes the nearby land drier.
Example
The West Australian Current adds to the dryness of the Great Sandy Desert and the Gibson Desert in Western Australia.
Don't confuse with
- East Australian Current: a warm current that flows south along Australia's east coast and bathes the Great Barrier Reef. The West Australian Current is cold and flows north along the west coast.