Brazil Current 
The Brazil Current is an extension of the Atlantic South Equatorial 
Current, which divides between latitudes 7° and 17°S, depending on the 
time of year, and flows southwest parallel to the Brazil coast. Off 
Uruguay, at about 35°S, it meets the Falkland Current, and the two 
currents curve toward the east and join the South Atlantic Current. 
The approximate seasonal boundaries of the Brazil Current are 
shown in Figure 10. The prevailing flow is Somdn-cemtinmast throughout 
the year, but the boundaries and speeds appear to change more signifi- 
cantly than most other major currents. The mean speed of the Brazil 
Current along its entire length is about 0.6 knot, and its variation in 
speed and direction is greater throughout the year than that of the main 
part of the Atlantic South Equatorial Current from which it originates. 
In the southern winter (July and August), coastal countercurrents 
flow along the major part of the Brazil coast, even though the Brazil 
Current flows at greater constancy and higher speeds than at other seasons. 
The Brazil Current is stronger because the Atlantic South Equatorial 
Current is stronger during July and August, with speeds exceeding 2.5 
knots off the east coast of South America; the countercurrents result 
from the increase in volume of seasonal river discharge of the Rio de la 
Plata being augmented partly by-a coastal extension of the Falkland Current. 
The hourly measurements of the Brazil Current shown in Table 7 
indicate the many changes that can occur in the surface layer. Strong 
tidal characteristics are evident in the surface current, which appears 
to be influenced also by prevailing northerly and northeasterly winds; 
however, the period of observation occurred during the lunar phase of 
quadrature at maximum declination, during which the tidal currents in 
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