Question

How does Gulf Stream current originate?

Answer 1

The Gulf Stream current originates in the North Atlantic Ocean where the Cayenne current, joined and reinforced by the North Equatorial current, heads northwest as a large mass of equatorial water into the Caribbean Sea. Part of this current enters the Gulf of Mexico and emerges from the Florida Strait as the Florida current, while the rest flows northwards along the southeast coast of the USA as the Gulf Stream. It is driven by planetary winds, specifically the Northeast trade winds, and influenced by the Earths rotation and the Coriolis effect. Warm equatorial waters are carried northwards, then deflected eastwards toward Europe under the influence of Westerlies and Coriolis force, forming the North Atlantic drift.