Somali current: Difference between revisions
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<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">A prominent western [[boundary current]] in the northern Indian Ocean.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">During the northeast [[monsoon]] season the Somali Current flows southward from 5° to 1°N in December, expanding to 10°N–4°S in January–February and contracting again to 4°N–1°S in March. It is then fed from the [[North Equatorial Current]] and discharges into the [[Equatorial Countercurrent]]. During all these months its speed is 0.7–1.0 m s<sup>-1</sup>. During the [[southwest monsoon]] the current develops into an intense northward jet with extreme surface speeds; 2 m s<sup>-1</sup> have been reported for May and 3.5 m s<sup>-1</sup> for June. The jet is fed from the [[South Equatorial Current]] and flows along the eastern coast of the Horn of Africa; part of it continues along the Arabian Peninsula as the [[East Arabian Current]]. South of 5°N the jet is shallow; southward flow continues below a depth of 150 m. North of 5°N the jet deepens and embraces the permanent [[thermocline]]. During its northward phase the Somali Current is associated with strong [[upwelling]] between 2° and 10°N. The upwelled cold water turns offshore near Ras Hafun (11°N), forming a large [[anticyclonic]] eddy with a diameter of about 500 km known as the [[Great Whirl]]. Eventually the water from the Somali Current enters the [[Southwest Monsoon Current]].</div><br/> </div> | <div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">A prominent western [[boundary currents|boundary current]] in the northern Indian Ocean.</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">During the northeast [[monsoon]] season the Somali Current flows southward from 5° to 1°N in December, expanding to 10°N–4°S in January–February and contracting again to 4°N–1°S in March. It is then fed from the [[North Equatorial Current]] and discharges into the [[Equatorial Countercurrent|Equatorial Countercurrent]]. During all these months its speed is 0.7–1.0 m s<sup>-1</sup>. During the [[southwest monsoon|southwest monsoon]] the current develops into an intense northward jet with extreme surface speeds; 2 m s<sup>-1</sup> have been reported for May and 3.5 m s<sup>-1</sup> for June. The jet is fed from the [[South Equatorial Current|South Equatorial Current]] and flows along the eastern coast of the Horn of Africa; part of it continues along the Arabian Peninsula as the [[East Arabian Current]]. South of 5°N the jet is shallow; southward flow continues below a depth of 150 m. North of 5°N the jet deepens and embraces the permanent [[thermocline]]. During its northward phase the Somali Current is associated with strong [[upwelling]] between 2° and 10°N. The upwelled cold water turns offshore near Ras Hafun (11°N), forming a large [[anticyclonic]] eddy with a diameter of about 500 km known as the [[Great Whirl]]. Eventually the water from the Somali Current enters the [[Southwest Monsoon Current]].</div><br/> </div> | ||
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Latest revision as of 16:55, 25 April 2012
Somali Current
A prominent western boundary current in the northern Indian Ocean.
During the northeast monsoon season the Somali Current flows southward from 5° to 1°N in December, expanding to 10°N–4°S in January–February and contracting again to 4°N–1°S in March. It is then fed from the North Equatorial Current and discharges into the Equatorial Countercurrent. During all these months its speed is 0.7–1.0 m s-1. During the southwest monsoon the current develops into an intense northward jet with extreme surface speeds; 2 m s-1 have been reported for May and 3.5 m s-1 for June. The jet is fed from the South Equatorial Current and flows along the eastern coast of the Horn of Africa; part of it continues along the Arabian Peninsula as the East Arabian Current. South of 5°N the jet is shallow; southward flow continues below a depth of 150 m. North of 5°N the jet deepens and embraces the permanent thermocline. During its northward phase the Somali Current is associated with strong upwelling between 2° and 10°N. The upwelled cold water turns offshore near Ras Hafun (11°N), forming a large anticyclonic eddy with a diameter of about 500 km known as the Great Whirl. Eventually the water from the Somali Current enters the Southwest Monsoon Current.
