Brief notes on North Equatorial Current of the Pacific Ocean

The North Equatorial Current of the Pacific Ocean which runs from the west coast of Mexico, flows towards the west and continues up to Philippines. This is a warm ocean current which resembles the North Equatorial Current of the Atlantic Ocean in many respects.

Since the width of the Pacific Ocean in the equatorial region is more than that of any other ocean, the transport of water in this current is undoubtedly more than that in its counter parts in the Atlantic or the Indian Ocean. It is broad as well as deep, but its velocity is less than 20cm/sec.

As it flows towards the west, there is a continuous increase in its volume because of the addition of central water masses to it. The direction and velocity both are constant throughout the year.

However, during winter, with the migration of the wind belts towards the south, this current becomes much stronger. Of course, in the western part this current registers an increase in its velocity.

Close to the coast of Mexico the waters of the California Current are added to this current. Besides, the very beginning of the North Equatorial current is found where, at some distance away from the coast of Central America, the waters of the counter current deflect towards the north.

It may be added that the waters of the California Current that join this current have attained a relatively higher temperature as well as salinity owing to the heating and evaporation of its surface waters in the tropical region.

Between the west coast of America and Hawaiian Islands, eastern North Pacific water is added to the equatorial current. Further to the west of the same islands the western North Pacific water is added.

The waters in this current move in a spiral-like motion, which itself are most complicated due to the presence of local divergences and convergences.

On reaching the western boundary of the ocean, the North Equatorial Current bifurcates into various branches to the north of Mindnao near the Philippines Islands.

Out of these branches, the main branch, bending towards the north, finally merges into the Kuroshio Current. The other branch moves to the south and feeds the Counter Current. There is seasonal variation in the intensity of the southward flowing current.