Rivers in the Sea 



must travel south. Or if, as in this case, so 

 much water runs in a westerly direction, a corre- 

 sponding amount has to run in an easterly 

 direction. Water may be marvellously piled 

 up here or there, by influences of land or of 

 wind, but it cannot remain piled up, without 

 efforts on the part of the ocean to restore the 

 equilibrium. 



Were the whole Earth covered by a single 

 unbroken sheet of water, these drift currents 

 might circle round and round the globe for ever, 

 undisturbed in their working. But the Earth has 

 lands as well as oceans ; and when a current 

 strikes a coast its course is altered, part at least 

 being turned in a fresh direction. 



Much discussion has taken place about the 

 causes which bring these great Drift Currents 

 into being. 



Disturbing elements, many in number, may 

 have had a hand in the matter. So soon as one 

 part of the sea-surface becomes warmer than 

 another part, movements are set going ; the 

 heavy cold water sinks, the light warm water 

 rises, and streams are started from the one place 

 to the other. There are also countless rivers 

 pouring into the ocean, each helping to upset 

 its equilibrium. Heavy downpours of rain raise 



59 



