There are several currents in seas adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean that are of considerable importance.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA. There is a strong current in the Strait of Gibraltar. Here, the waters of the North Atlantic flow into the Mediterranean Sea in the upper layers, and waters of the Mediterranean flow into the North Atlantic in the lower layers. The outflowing waters are colder and have a higher salinity than the waters flowing into the Mediterranean.

LABRADOR SEA AND BAFFIN BAY. Waters of the North Atlantic Ocean enter the Labrador Sea along the west coast of Greenland as the WEST GREENLAND CURRENT. Some of this current flows through the Davis Strait into Baffin Bay, while the remainder turns westward and joins the LABRADOR CUR-RENT. The Labrador Current flows southward along the east coast of Labrador. A portion of this current turns eastward and flows along the northern border of the North Atlantic Drift. Another portion flows south along the east coast of North America to the vicinity of Cape Hatteras.

CARIBBEAN SEA AND GULF OF MEX-ICO. The strong westerly current that flows through the Caribbean Sea and Yucatan Channel is a continuation of the southern branch of the North Equatorial Current of the Atlantic Ocean. Two conspicuous eddies accompany this current; one eddy is in the bay between Nicaragua and Colombia, while the other is between Cuba and Jamaica.

To the west of the Yucatan Channel most of the main current turns east and joins the Florida Current through the Florida Straits. Another portion flows into the Gulf of Mexico, where pronounced eddies dominate the circulation. These eddies are caused by the contours of the coast and the character of the Gulf floor.

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