Äquatorialströmungen

Äquatorialströmungen are large-scale ocean currents that flow westward along the equator in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. These currents are driven by the prevailing easterly trade winds, which exert a drag on the ocean surface, pushing the water westward. As the water is pushed west, it accumulates in the western parts of the ocean basins, leading to a rise in sea level and a corresponding decrease in sea level in the eastern parts.

In the Pacific Ocean, the North Equatorial Current and the South Equatorial Current are prominent. They are separated by the Equatorial Countercurrent, which flows eastward, driven by a slight pressure gradient and influenced by the Coriolis effect. Similarly, the Atlantic Ocean has a North Equatorial Current and a South Equatorial Current, also with an Equatorial Countercurrent between them. The Indian Ocean's currents are more complex due to monsoon influences, but westward-flowing equatorial currents are still present.

These currents play a crucial role in global heat distribution, transporting warm tropical waters towards higher latitudes. They also influence weather patterns by affecting sea surface temperatures and evaporation rates. Changes in the strength and position of the Äquatorialströmungen are linked to major climate phenomena such as El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Their westward flow also contributes to the formation of major boundary currents like the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic and the Kuroshio Current in the Pacific, which significantly impact regional climates.