EFFECTS OF OCEAN CURRENTS 



283 



coast of South America is called the Humboldt Current. 

 Other names are given to different parts of the ocean move- 

 ment, but those mentioned here are the most important. 



Where the ocean currents are unimpeded by the land, 

 they flow in the direction of the prevailing winds. It 

 has been found that the currents change their directions 

 with a change in the direction of the prevailing wind, 

 such as occurs in the Indian Ocean when the heat equator 

 is farthest north of the earth's equator. It appears that 

 ocean currents are primarily a result of the wind circulation. 



134. Effects of Ocean Currents. A knowledge of ocean 

 currents is of importance to mariners, as the course and 

 speed of a vessel may be considerably affected by them. 

 They also greatly affect the conditions of animal life in 



CORAL FORMATIONS IN THE BERMUDAS. 



different parts of the sea. Not only do these currents 

 bring food to animals which have not the power of motion 



