XI. 
THE GULF STREAM. 
Tur Gulf Stream is the best known and at the same time the 
most remarkable example of the effect of oceanic circulation 
upon the distribution of temperature in connection with the 
currents of the North Atlantic. It has long been known to 
geographers that a cold current coming from Greenland joins 
the Labrador current, and extends in a southerly direction along 
the eastern coast of the United States, while a warm current 
pouring through the Straits of Florida flows in the opposite di- 
rection? along the coast of the southern Atlantic States, and is 
deflected from the Banks of Newfoundland, crossing the Atlan- 
tic diagonally. This body of warm water makes itself felt along 
the west coast of the British Islands, penetrating even as far as 
the coast of Spitzbergen, and perhaps beyond, to Nova Zembla. 
It is impossible to discuss the results of the more recent inves- 
tigations of the Gulf Stream carried on by the “ Blake," with- 
out including the general questions of oceanic circulation, and 
of the thermal conditions of the Atlantic in particular. I shall 
therefore briefly state such points, derived from the explorations 
of the “Challenger” and other expeditions, as will assist us in 
understanding the history and physics of this great oceanic 
current. 
Sir Charles Lyell has called attention to the fact that in the 
1 Along the American coast the sudden cold green water, which has such a chill- 
transition from the green, cold, and more 
or less turbid water found along the coast 
and continental shelf, into the deep blue 
waters of the warm Gulf Stream, is one 
which has been noticed by all who have 
passed from the shore seaward. This 
ing influence on the climate of the New 
England States, follows the line of the 
Atlantic coast of the United States far 
towards the base of the peninsula of Flo- 
rida. 
