Why equatorial counter current is not on equator?

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In summary, the equatorial counter current is not located directly on the equator due to the influence of trade winds and the Earth's rotation. These factors cause water to be pushed westward, leading to a buildup of warm water in the western Pacific. As a result, the counter current forms east of the equator, where the water flows back eastward beneath the surface, creating a complex interaction of ocean currents that is influenced by seasonal changes and atmospheric conditions.
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zasvitim
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TL;DR Summary
Why equatorial counter current is not on equator? Why it's not 4°S-4°N for example? What pushes it from equator in all 3 oceans?
"The Equatorial Counter Current is an eastward flowing, wind-driven current which extends to depths of 100–150 metres (330–490 ft) in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. More often called the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC), this current flows west-to-east at about 3-10°N in the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Pacific basins, between the North Equatorial Current (NEC) and the South Equatorial Current (SEC)"

Why it's not on equator? Why it's not 4°S-4°N for example? What pushes it from equator in all 3 oceans?

[Mentor Note -- Always provide attribution for quotes that you copy off the Internet; it is a copyright violation if you do not. Link added below]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equatorial_Counter_Current
 
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  • #2
zasvitim said:
What pushes it from equator in all 3 oceans?
Ocean currents are driven by temperature and the salt concentration profile, that changes due to evaporation of water.

The continents obstruct, and the seafloor restricts, the ocean circulation.

Surface waves are driven by the wind, and that alternates with the seasons, between the Tropic of Cancer and of Capricorn, summer and winter, north and south, about ±23.5°

Click on a point to get current and wave height.
Open the "Earth" menu in the bottom left corner to select waves or atmosphere.
https://earth.nullschool.net/#curre...ht/winkel3=-358.89,-0.35,254/loc=-0.357,0.401
 
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  • #3
zasvitim said:
Why it's not on equator?
Because it's just a name. You may as well ask "Why does the Canary Current start around the Azores a thousand kilometres north-west of the Canary Islands?"
 
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FAQ: Why equatorial counter current is not on equator?

1. What is the equatorial counter current?

The equatorial counter current is a surface ocean current that flows eastward in the equatorial region, typically found between the North and South Equatorial Currents. It occurs due to the trade winds and the Earth's rotation, leading to a divergence of water at the equator.

2. Why is the equatorial counter current not located directly at the equator?

The equatorial counter current is not located directly at the equator because the trade winds push water westward, causing a buildup of water in the western Pacific. This results in a pressure gradient that drives the counter current eastward, typically found just north or south of the equator, where the balance of forces is more favorable.

3. How do trade winds influence the equatorial counter current?

Trade winds, which blow from east to west in the tropics, create a westward flow of surface water. This accumulation of water in the western Pacific leads to a rise in sea level, resulting in a pressure imbalance that generates the eastward-flowing equatorial counter current, situated slightly off the equator.

4. What role does the Coriolis effect play in the positioning of the equatorial counter current?

The Coriolis effect, resulting from the Earth's rotation, causes moving water to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection contributes to the formation of the equatorial counter current slightly north and south of the equator, rather than directly at the equator itself.

5. How does the equatorial counter current affect climate and weather patterns?

The equatorial counter current plays a significant role in climate and weather patterns by influencing ocean heat distribution and nutrient cycling. It can affect rainfall patterns, particularly in the western Pacific, and has implications for phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña, which impact global weather systems.

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