588 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Cape Horn Local Current. 



A cuiTent, which may be denominated the Cape Horn local cur- 

 rent, is o^enerated near the coast of Chili and Peru. It is aualo- 

 gous to the Guinea local current, and runs south to Cape Horn, 

 between the coast and the cold elliptical current. When this 

 warm local current reaches Cape Horn, it has acquired so much 

 easting that it is impelled to flow eastward, around the Cape, into 

 the south Atlantic and among the Falkland islands. 



The cold current from the antarctic, which, near Peru, is known 

 as the Humboldt current, flows north along the South American 

 coast to Chili and Peru, chilling the climate of those shores; while 

 the local current flows in the contrary direction, and warms the 

 shores of the Patao-onian and Fueo-ean coasts. 



All the writers on this subject describe this great current as 

 flowino; cold from the antarctic, and " dividinij into two branches," 

 one of which, after reachino; Chili and orettincr warm, turns back, 

 and flows around Cape Horn. According to our theory this can- 

 not be true. The Humboldt and the antarctic currents are parts 

 of the south Pacific ellipse, and cannot flow back. The Cape Horn 

 counter current is distinct, independent and locaL 



There is a remarkable, local counter-current in the triangular 

 space between the west coast of Central America and the two great 

 elliptical currents of the Pacific ocean, about ten degrees north of 

 the equator. It seems to be general in mid-ocean, and flows east 

 and north, as a warm local current in that situation must. It has 

 hitherto seemed strange and anomalous that two great equatorial 

 currents, one north of the equator and the other mostly south of 

 it, should be flowing constantly due west, and yet that between 

 the two (but nearer to the American than the Asiatic coast) a warm 

 counter-current be flowmg east apd northeastward. Our theory 

 solves the engima, by showing the distinction between elliptical 

 and local currents. An elliptical current must always flow west- 

 ward near the equator, while a local current must, in the same 

 latitude, flow eastward. There is a local current flowing in and 

 out of the Ochotsk scjr, analogous to that which flows in and out of 

 Bafiins sea ; and doubtless there are other interior currents of a 

 similar character in the Alleutian, Japan, Chinese and other minor 

 seas along this coast. 



In the Indian ocean, the elliptical current, according to the 

 authorities, is all south of the equator. It flows from a pojnt near 

 the equator, and south of it, along the east coast of South Africa. 



