flows pass into the region of the trade ■winds. The ctirrent follows 

 the coast and joins the Pacific South Equatorial Current beyond 

 100 "W. 



The surface current shows a high constancy throughout the 

 greater part of its length and is little affected hy latitude or 

 season. What seasonal variation does occur is shown in the siirface 

 current roses in Figure 9J "the current tends to be most variable 

 south of 10*'S during the southern winter and north of 10°S during 

 the southern summer. The current most frequently flows at speeds 

 ranging between 0.2 and 1.4 knots, being strongest off the Peru 

 coast; maximum speeds occur at its northern extremity between the 

 continent and the Galapagos Archipelago. The currents are stronger 

 near shore and weaken with increasing distance from shore. 



In some regions, however, the current is very weak, with eddies 

 occurring at irregular intervals; south-setting countercurrents 

 frequently flow close to shore as indicated by the south component 

 of the surface current roses > Because of the moderate speed and 

 variability of the Peru Current, its exact west boundary is 

 difficult to determine; the flow west of the Peru Current is also 

 markedly northward, and there is no sudden change between the 

 coastal zone of more persistent flow and the oceanic region of less 

 stable or weaker flow. 



Observations have shown that the current close inshore is 

 under the nearly continuous influence of small-scale upwelling 

 (Figure lO). Steady southerly winds along the coast tend to force 



30 



