Between the Cape of Good Hope and latitude 17° to 18°S, a very strong cold current flows northward along the coast of West Africa. The offshore water is colder as a result of the upwelling of cold deeper water caused by the offshore winds.

Various theories have been deve­loped to explain the generation of this current. One of the causes for the initiation of this current is the deflection of the West Wind Drift at the southernmost part of Africa causing the northward movement of water along the west coast.

Besides, the upwelling of cold water, as stated above, is considered an additional factor to lower the temperature of this cold current further. This current carries about 16 million m3/sec from the south to the north.

After crossing 20°S latitude the Benguela Current flows at some distance from the coast, and further it con­verges with the South Equatorial Current. It is due to this current that the cold water mass extends up to the Equator.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

The cold water carried towards the Equator is rein­forced as a result of the divergence near it. This current carries with it larger amount of water towards the north than the Brazil Current which carries the equatorial water towards the south along the coast of Brazil.