Question

Which of the following ocean current is associated with Indian Ocean ?

• A. Agulhas Current
• B. Canary Current
• C. Kurile Current
• D. Florida Current

Hint:

Agulhas Current is a warm boundary current of the Southwest Indian Ocean, while Canary and Florida are Atlantic currents, and Kurile is a Pacific current.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Ocean currents are large-scale, continuous directed movements of seawater driven by atmospheric wind patterns, the Coriolis force, temperature, salinity differences, and continental boundaries.
Each major ocean basin (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian) has a unique system of warm and cold currents.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the geographic association of each of the listed ocean currents:
1. Agulhas Current (A): A major, warm, narrow western boundary current that flows southward along the east coast of Africa from the Mozambique Channel to the southern tip of the continent. It is a dominant current of the South Indian Ocean gyre. Thus, (A) is correct.
2. Canary Current (B): A cold, eastern boundary current of the North Atlantic Ocean gyre, flowing southward along the coast of Northwest Africa.
3. Kurile Current (C) (also known as Oyashio Current): A cold subarctic ocean current that flows southward in the western North Pacific Ocean, passing the Kuril Islands.
4. Florida Current (D): A warm western boundary current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico into the North Atlantic Ocean, eventually feeding into the Gulf Stream.
Thus, the only current belonging to the Indian Ocean basin is the Agulhas Current.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Therefore, the Agulhas Current is associated with the Indian Ocean.