Benguela Current


Benguela Current

[ben′gwel·ə¦kər·ənt] (oceanography) A strong current flowing northward along the southwestern coast of Africa.

Benguela Current

 

a cold current along the western shores of Africa; a northern branch of the West Wind Drift. Its speed measures 1–2 km/hr. The surface water temperature in summer ranges from 19° C in the south to 26° C in the north; in winter it is 15°-22°C, respectively. Directly offshore, under the influence of rising waters from the depths, the temperature falls below 15° C in the summer and below 12° C in winter.