Identify the ocean current that flows along the west coast of africa?

Question: Identify the ocean current that flows along the west coast of africa?

If you are interested in learning more about the ocean currents that affect the climate and biodiversity of different regions, you might want to identify the ocean current that flows along the west coast of Africa. This current is called the **Benguela Current**, and it is a branch of the West Wind Drift of the Southern Hemisphere. It flows northward in the South Atlantic Ocean along the west coast of southern Africa nearly to the Equator before merging with the westward-flowing Atlantic South Equatorial Current.

The Benguela Current is one of the four major eastern boundary currents in the world ocean, along with the California, Humboldt and Canary currents. These currents are characterized by cold, nutrient-rich waters that support high biological productivity and diversity. The Benguela Current is also influenced by coastal upwelling, which brings deep water to the surface and enhances the supply of nutrients and oxygen. The upwelling occurs mainly in two regions: off Namibia and off South Africa.

The Benguela Current has important effects on the climate and economy of the west coast of Africa. It moderates the air temperature and creates a dry and stable atmosphere, which reduces rainfall and cloud cover. This results in arid and semi-arid conditions along most of the coast, except for some areas where rainfall is enhanced by local topography or atmospheric circulation. The Benguela Current also supports a rich marine ecosystem that sustains valuable fisheries, such as sardines, anchovies, hake and tuna.

However, the Benguela Current is also vulnerable to changes in the ocean and climate system, such as global warming, ocean acidification and ocean deoxygenation. These changes can alter the strength, variability and distribution of the current and its associated upwelling, affecting the marine life and human activities that depend on it. For example, a phenomenon known as Benguela Niño occurs when warm water intrudes into the cold Benguela region, causing fish mortality, harmful algal blooms and reduced catches. Benguela Niño events have become more frequent and intense in recent decades, possibly due to changes in the tropical Atlantic circulation.

Therefore, it is important to monitor and understand the dynamics of the Benguela Current and its interactions with other ocean currents, such as the Agulhas Current that flows south along the east coast of Africa. The Agulhas Current is warm, fast and strong, and it carries water from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes, large meanders or rings of Agulhas water break off and enter the Benguela region, affecting its temperature, salinity and nutrient levels. The exchange of water and heat between the Agulhas and Benguela currents can also influence the global climate by altering the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, which is a key component of the Earth's heat engine.

To identify and study the ocean current that flows along the west coast of Africa, scientists use various methods and tools, such as satellite observations, numerical models, ocean buoys, ship surveys and underwater gliders. These data help to improve our knowledge and predictions of the Benguela Current and its impacts on the environment and society. By sharing and communicating this information with stakeholders, policymakers and the public, we can raise awareness and foster adaptation and mitigation strategies to cope with the challenges and opportunities posed by this remarkable ocean current.