124 THE OCEAN 



general movements of the overlying atmos- 

 phere just referred to, the separate currents 

 represented on the accompanying map (Plate 

 V.) forming part of the general system. 



In the Atlantic the South Equatorial Current 

 flows westwards across the ocean before the 

 south-east trade-wind, until it divides into 

 two branches off Cape St. Roque in Brazil, one 

 flowing southwards along the South Ameri- 

 can coast as the Brazil Current, the other 

 flowing north-westwards to enter the Carib- 

 bean Sea and to contribute towards the forma- 

 tion of the Gulf Stream. When the Brazil 

 Current comes under the influence of the 

 westerly winds the water is swept eastwards 

 across the South Atlantic, partly merging 

 into the Benguela Current and flowing north- 

 wards along the African west coast, thus com- 

 pleting the rotatory circulation of the South 

 Atlantic. The Benguela Current is also indi- 

 rectly due to the south-east trade- winds, which 

 drive the surface water before them along 

 the West African coast, thus causing up welling 

 of the colder water from beneath to replace 

 that driven forward at the surface. The North 

 Equatorial Current flows westwards across the 

 ocean before the north-east trade-wind until 

 on reaching the Windward Islands it is driven 

 partly into the Caribbean Sea and partly round 

 the outside of the West Indies towards the 



