Between the North and South Equatorial Currents, the Counter Equatorial Current continues to flow from the west to the east in a fully developed form throughout the year.

It is interesting to learn that the counter current lies always in the northern hemisphere, but further away from the; Equator in the northern summer. During the northern summer, the current velocities reach values up to 1OOcm/sec. at the surface.

This Counter Current lies between 3°N and 10°N latitudes. The Pacific Equatorial Counter Current transports water amounting to 25 million m3/sec to the east.

According to Montgomery and Palmen, the Counter Current is maintained by the piling up of the light and warm surface water against the western boundary of the ocean.

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The counter-current is characterized by the descending motion of water at its southern boundary and the ascending motion at the northern boundary.

Owing to the convergence and divergence this current does not flow due east or due west. On its surface is found a spiral motion which carries water from the northern to the southern boundary of the counter current at the surface. It also carries water in the opposite direction at depths between 50 and 200 meters.

In the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, there is a subsurface current moving east beneath the South Equatorial Current at the Equator. This is the Cromwell Current which is just a thin ribbon of swiftly flowing water.

At longitude 140°W the velocity of the current was found to be 125-150 cm/sec at a depth of 100 meters. The amount of water transported is very great amounting to about 39 million m3/sec.

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This current becomes very weak towards the east. According to Knauss, the Cromwell Current originates due to mixing that occurs at the Equator.