Benguelaáramlat

The Benguelaáramlat, also known as the Benguela Current, is a cold ocean current that flows northwards along the western coast of southern Africa. It is one of the four major eastern boundary currents of the world's oceans, characterized by its upwelling of nutrient-rich cold water from the deep ocean to the surface. This upwelling is a significant factor in the productivity of the Benguelaáramlat ecosystem.

The current originates in the Southern Ocean and flows towards the equator, driven by the prevailing southerly winds and influenced by the Earth's rotation through the Coriolis effect. As it moves north, it encounters warmer waters and eventually merges with the South Equatorial Current. The Benguelaáramlat plays a crucial role in regulating the climate of the adjacent coastal regions, contributing to the arid conditions found in the Namib Desert.

The cold, nutrient-rich waters support a vast and diverse marine life. This includes large populations of phytoplankton and zooplankton, which form the base of a rich food web. Consequently, the Benguelaáramlat is renowned for its abundant fish stocks, particularly sardine and anchovy, which in turn support large populations of marine mammals, seabirds, and sharks. The fisheries in this region are economically important, though they are also subject to fluctuations influenced by environmental factors such as El Niño events.