Structured Lists Directory

Overview

Major Ocean Currents of the World

The world's major ocean currents are large-scale flows of seawater that significantly influence Earth's climate and ecosystems. Warm currents such as the Kuroshio and Gulf Stream, and cold currents such as the Oyashio and California Current exist, each playing important roles in ocean circulation. These currents are driven by winds and density differences in seawater, and are deeply involved in climate regulation, distribution of fishery resources, and navigation.

ocean current ocean climate warm current cold current Kuroshio Oyashio Gulf Stream
code slug name description flowRate maxVelocity ocean type
01 kuroshio Kuroshio (Japan Current) One of the world's largest warm currents flowing in the western Pacific Ocean. 毎秒約6000万トン 3-5ノット Pacific Ocean Warm Current
02 oyashio Oyashio (Kuril Current) A representative cold current flowing in the North Pacific Ocean. 黒潮に匹敵 0.6～1.3ノット Pacific Ocean Cold Current
03 gulf-stream Gulf Stream The world's largest warm current flowing in the Atlantic Ocean. 毎秒1億トン以上 4～6ノット Atlantic Ocean Warm Current
04 north-pacific-current North Pacific Current A warm current that flows as an extension of the Kuroshio. 1～2ノット Pacific Ocean Warm Current
05 california-current California Current A cold current flowing southward along the west coast of North America. 0.5～1ノット Pacific Ocean Cold Current
06 peru-current Peru Current (Humboldt Current) A cold current flowing northward along the west coast of South America. 0.5～1ノット Pacific Ocean Cold Current
07 north-atlantic-current North Atlantic Current A warm current that flows as an extension of the Gulf Stream. 1～2ノット Atlantic Ocean Warm Current
08 canary-current Canary Current A cold current flowing southward in the eastern North Atlantic. 0.5～1ノット Atlantic Ocean Cold Current
09 brazil-current Brazil Current A warm current flowing southward in the western South Atlantic. 1～2ノット Atlantic Ocean Warm Current
10 benguela-current Benguela Current A cold current flowing northward along the west coast of South Africa. 0.5～1ノット Atlantic Ocean Cold Current
11 agulhas-current Agulhas Current A warm current flowing southward along the east coast of South Africa. 4～6ノット Indian Ocean Warm Current
12 antarctic-circumpolar-current Antarctic Circumpolar Current (West Wind Drift) A current that circulates eastward around the Antarctic continent. 毎秒1億3千万トン以上 2～4ノット Three Oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian) Cold Current
13 north-equatorial-current North Equatorial Current A warm current flowing westward north of the equator. 1～2ノット Pacific and Atlantic Oceans Warm Current
14 south-equatorial-current South Equatorial Current A warm current flowing westward south of the equator. 1～2ノット Three Oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian) Warm Current

A list of major ocean currents on Earth.