IV-15 

 see Figure IV.l .1 . 



The best known of these is the Gulf Stream which moves northward 

 along the South Atlantic coast from Florida to Cape Hatteras, where 

 it turns east out across the Atlantic. Between Cape Hatteras and 

 Newfoundland, water from the Labrador Current moves slowly southward 

 between the Gulf Stream and the coast. 



The Labrador Current, a cold water mass with abundant plant 

 nutrients, makes the Grand Banks off Newfoundland one of the most 

 productive fisheries of the world. While much of the Labrador 

 Current mixes with the Gulf Stream, some of its water enters the 

 Gulf of Maine as part of the strong tidal and wave-driven flow, and 

 still more drifts down the Middle Atlantic coast from Massachusetts 

 to North Carolina. 



The Gulf Stream is very warm water from subtropical latitudes, and 

 carries with it subtropical life forms as well as heat. Its warming 

 effect on the land can be seen in the difference in vegetation 

 above and below Cape Hatteras, as well as in differences in kinds of 

 aquatic life (Figure IV.1.7). 



A major part of the Gulf Stream emerges from the warm, subtropical 

 Gulf of Mexico and flows around the tip of Florida. These waters 

 nurture the great shrimp fishery and warm the coasts of northern 

 Europe as well as those of the southeastern United States. 



