210 Temperature of the Waters of the Gulf Stream. [Oct., 



ON THE ELEVATED TEMPERATURE OF THE WA - 

 TERS OF THE GULF STREAM. 



BY JAMES EIGHTS. 



It is a well known fact, that a powerful current from the In- 

 dian Ocean sweeps round the Cape of Good Hope, wdiere, meet- 

 ing \vith a similar one from the South-west, or Antarctic sea, they 

 unite, and flow in a northerly direction along the African coast. 

 After circulating through the Gulf of Guinea, it passes direct- 

 ly across the Atlantic Ocean, forming what is called the great 

 equatorial current. This current, on approaching Cape St. Roque, 

 the most prominent point of the American coast, separates into 

 nearly two equal divisions: the one flowing south, courses along 

 the Brazilian shore, until it is deflected from the land near 

 the Rio de la Plate, and is again thrown out into mid-ocean, so 

 as to form a great southern circular current, or stream. The 

 northern division, after passing into the Caribbean sea, and wash- 

 ing the shores of the Mexican gulf, emerges through the Florida 

 straits, and runs at a rapid rate in a northerly direction, giving 

 origin to the great central circular current, or gulf stream. A 

 similar circular current, but far more irregular in its progress, 

 may likew ise be traced in the Northern ocean, but like that of 

 the south, it has" its course in a direction directly opposite to the 

 waters of the gulf. 



In accounting for the elevated temperature of the gulf stream, 

 the opinion has been repeatedly advanced, that the waters consti- 

 tuting the great equatorial current, in coursing alorig the African 

 coast, and crossing the tropical sea, obtained its heat from the 

 atmospheric influences of the warm regions through which it flows. 



That this is not the case, admits of easy proof The southern 

 portion of this great current, that which pursues its course along 

 the Brazilian banks, maintains no higher degree of temperature 

 than that, peculiar to the latitudes through which it flows, where- 

 as it should possess the same degree of warmth as the waters of 

 the gulf stream. We then, consequently, must seek for some other 

 Cause, and one readily presents itself, the moment we turn our 



