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The Benguela Current

The Benguela Current. Zack Burgher Physical Oceanography. Development of the Current. The eastern boundary current of the South Atlantic subtropical gyre Exceptionally strong current caused by:

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The Benguela Current

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  1. The Benguela Current Zack Burgher Physical Oceanography

  2. Development of the Current • The eastern boundary current of the South Atlantic subtropical gyre • Exceptionally strong current caused by: • Warm Agulhas’ waters from Indian Ocean mix with cold sub-antarctic water and low-oxygen tropical Atlantic water • South Easterly trade winds give rise to upwelling • Upwelling of nutrient rich waters replaces nutrient depleted Atlantic waters and causes blooms in marine life

  3. General Flow

  4. Winter : South Easterly Winds • Wind pattern seen throughout winter months • Less localized intensity • Less upwelling • Lower biological activity

  5. Summer : Strong South Easterly Winds • Wind pattern seen in summer months of Africa • Strong winds parallel to shore bring about Ekman Transport • Causing upwelling and increased biological activity

  6. Comparing the Seasons Summer Winter

  7. Average Current Strength • Averages taken over 10 years • Along coast strong flow of 0.1 m/s shows the substantial amount of upwelling • Added wind stress shows the amount of upwelling due to the effects of Ekman Transport

  8. Negative Effects of Extreme Upwelling • Upwelling brings nutrient rich waters to the surface • Often causes blooms in marine life • Various blooms in all life forms can lead to anoxic waters • Harmful for marine life such as the Rock Lobster • Species forced to beach on shore to avoid suffocation in the Benguela current

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