As stated earlier, the warm Brazil Current is in fact a branch of the South Equatorial Current. This is a very warm and highly saline ocean current. The transport of water by this current is 10 million cubic meter per second near the Brazil coast.
After crossing the 30°S latitude this current joins the cold Falkland Current. The total transport of water by this current is only about 10% of that by the Gulf Stream.
Again in the vicinity of 30°S the Brazil current, under the combined influence of the prevailing westerlies as well as the Coriolis force, deflects towards the left of its path of motion and continues to flow towards the east.
The results of the more recent theoretical investigations have made it clear that the energy needed by this current is supplied by winds. The mass transport of ocean currents in the subtropics directed towards the poles is concentrated within a narrow land along the west sides of the oceans.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
This is applicable in case of the Brazil current also. This current transports only 10% of the amount of water carried by the Gulf Stream.
This is so because of the greater wind-stress in the North Atlantic, which is the result of the shorter distance between the trade winds and westerlies. This distance, according to C.A.M. King, may be 60% less in the northern than the southern hemisphere.