Ocean Currents

11. Which one among the following is a cold current in the Atlantic Ocean?

Which one among the following is a cold current in the Atlantic Ocean?

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Gulf Stream
Benguela Current
Peru Current
Brazil Current
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2012
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Ocean currents are large-scale movements of water. Cold currents originate in polar regions and flow towards the equator, or are upwellings of deep, cold water. The Benguela Current is a cold current flowing northwards along the west coast of Southern Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Ocean currents significantly influence global climate patterns, weather, and marine ecosystems. They are broadly classified as warm or cold currents based on their temperature relative to the surrounding water.
The Gulf Stream and Brazil Current are warm currents in the Atlantic Ocean. The Peru Current (or Humboldt Current) is a cold current, but it is located in the Pacific Ocean along the western coast of South America.

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12. Which one among the following statements with reference to Benguela cu

Which one among the following statements with reference to Benguela current is NOT correct ?

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It influences the climate of the West coast of North Africa
It is a cold current
Its direction is from South to North
It flows in the Atlantic Ocean
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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The Benguela Current is a cold ocean current that flows northwards along the west coast of Southern Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope up to the border with Angola. Statement B is correct; it is a well-known cold current. Statement C is correct; its direction is from South to North along the coast. Statement D is correct; it flows in the South Atlantic Ocean. Statement A is incorrect; the Benguela Current influences the climate of the *west coast of Southern Africa*, not North Africa. The west coast of North Africa is influenced by the cold Canary Current.
Ocean currents significantly influence the climate of adjacent landmasses. Cold currents, like the Benguela, often lead to arid or semi-arid conditions on the western coasts of continents in tropical and subtropical latitudes.
The upwelling associated with the Benguela Current supports a very productive marine ecosystem off the coast of Namibia and South Africa. The aridity of the Namib Desert is partly attributed to the cooling and stabilizing effect of the Benguela Current on the overlying air.

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13. Which one of the following is NOT a current of Pacific Ocean ?

Which one of the following is NOT a current of Pacific Ocean ?

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Oyashio current
Alaska current
Agulhas current
California current
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2020
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The correct answer is C) Agulhas current.
The question asks which current is NOT a current of the Pacific Ocean. The Agulhas Current is a major ocean current located in the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Oyashio current, Alaska current, and California current are all significant currents found in the Pacific Ocean. The Oyashio is a cold current in the North Pacific, the Alaska current is a warm current also in the North Pacific, and the California current is a cold current in the North Pacific along the coast of North America. The Agulhas current flows down the east coast of Africa.

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14. Which one of the following ocean currents is a cold current ?

Which one of the following ocean currents is a cold current ?

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South Atlantic Drift
Mozambique Current
East Australian Current
Caribbean Current
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2019
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Ocean currents are classified as warm or cold based on whether they flow from warmer to colder regions (warm currents) or from colder to warmer regions (cold currents), relative to the surrounding water. The Mozambique Current, East Australian Current, and Caribbean Current are warm currents flowing from equatorial regions towards higher latitudes. The South Atlantic Drift is part of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current system and is influenced by the West Wind Drift; it carries relatively cold water eastwards across the South Atlantic.
Warm ocean currents typically flow along the eastern coasts of continents in lower and middle latitudes, and western coasts in higher latitudes. Cold ocean currents typically flow along the western coasts of continents in lower and middle latitudes, and eastern coasts in higher latitudes.
Major cold currents include the Labrador Current, Canary Current, California Current, Benguela Current, Peru Current, and the West Wind Drift (part of which is the South Atlantic Drift). Warm currents include the Gulf Stream, North Atlantic Drift, Kuroshio Current, Brazil Current, Agulhas Current, and East Australian Current.

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15. Which one of the following is not a cold current ?

Which one of the following is not a cold current ?

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Western Australian Current
Eastern Australian Current
Benguela Current
Peru Current
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2023
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The correct answer is B) Eastern Australian Current.
Ocean currents can be classified as warm or cold based on their temperature relative to the surrounding water, which in turn influences the climate of adjacent landmasses. Warm currents typically flow from the equator towards the poles, while cold currents flow from the poles towards the equator. The Western Australian Current, Benguela Current, and Peru Current are all prominent cold currents flowing towards the equator along the western coasts of continents in the Southern Hemisphere (or South America in the case of Peru). The Eastern Australian Current, however, flows southwards along the east coast of Australia and is a warm current originating from tropical waters.
Cold currents bring cold water to warmer regions, often leading to arid conditions on adjacent coasts (e.g., Atacama Desert near Peru Current, Namib Desert near Benguela Current). Warm currents bring warm water to colder regions, generally leading to more humid and mild conditions on adjacent coasts (e.g., the British Isles influenced by the North Atlantic Drift).

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16. Which one of the following ocean currents is NOT a cold ocean current?

Which one of the following ocean currents is NOT a cold ocean current?

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Canary current
California current
Kuroshio current
Oyashio current
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2019
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The Kuroshio current is a warm ocean current, while the Canary current, California current, and Oyashio current are cold ocean currents.
– Warm ocean currents generally flow from equatorial regions towards the poles, carrying warmer water.
– Cold ocean currents generally flow from polar regions towards the equator, carrying colder water.
– The Kuroshio is a strong western boundary current in the North Pacific, similar to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic, bringing warm water northwards.
– The Canary and California currents are eastern boundary currents that flow southwards, carrying cooler water.
– The Oyashio is a subpolar current flowing south from the Bering Sea, bringing cold water to the North Pacific.
Ocean currents play a crucial role in distributing heat around the globe, influencing regional climates, marine ecosystems, and weather patterns. Western boundary currents like the Kuroshio are typically warm, deep, fast, and narrow, while eastern boundary currents like the California and Canary currents are typically cold, shallow, slow, and wide.

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17. Consider the following statements: 1. Ocean currents are dominated b

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. Ocean currents are dominated by huge surface gyres that are driven by the global surface wind pattern.
  • 2. Equatorial currents move cold water westward and then poleward along the east coasts of continents.

With regard to the statements given above, which of the following is correct ?

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Both the statements are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation of statement 1.
Both the statements are correct, but statement 2 is not the correct explanation of statement 1.
Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is false.
Statement 1 is false, but statement 2 is correct.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2024
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Statement 1 is correct: The primary driving force for large-scale surface ocean currents are the prevailing winds, which exert friction on the water surface. These wind-driven currents are organized into large, rotating patterns called gyres in the major ocean basins. Statement 2 is incorrect: Equatorial currents are typically driven by the trade winds and flow westward. However, these equatorial currents carry *warm* water away from the equator. When these currents reach the western boundary of an ocean basin, they turn poleward along the east coasts of continents, forming major *warm* currents like the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic and the Kuroshio Current in the Pacific. Cold currents typically flow poleward along the *west* coasts of continents (e.g., California Current).
Surface ocean currents are largely driven by wind and the Coriolis effect, forming gyres. Warm currents generally flow from the tropics towards the poles, while cold currents flow from higher latitudes towards the equator.
Ocean gyres typically consist of a westward-flowing equatorial current, a poleward-flowing warm current along the western boundary, an eastward-flowing current in the mid-latitudes, and an equatorward-flowing cold current along the eastern boundary.

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18. Which one of the following do not influence the ocean currents?

Which one of the following do not influence the ocean currents?

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Heating by solar energy
Wind
Gravitational pull by Sun and Moon
Coriolis force
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
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While all listed factors influence ocean water movement, Gravitational pull by Sun and Moon is primarily responsible for tides, which are periodic movements (tidal currents) rather than the continuous, large-scale circulation patterns typically referred to as “ocean currents” (driven by wind and density differences). In some contexts, tidal currents are discussed separately from major ocean gyres and thermohaline circulation. Assuming the question differentiates between these types of movements or focuses on the main drivers of persistent currents, gravitational pull’s primary role in tides might be considered distinct.
Heating by solar energy drives density differences (thermohaline circulation) and creates wind (surface currents). Wind directly drives surface currents. Coriolis force deflects moving water, shaping current paths. Gravitational pull causes tides, which are a different type of ocean water movement (tidal currents).
Major ocean currents are primarily driven by wind stress on the surface and density variations caused by differences in temperature and salinity (thermohaline circulation). Coriolis force acts to deflect these currents. Gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon generates tidal forces, resulting in the ebb and flow of tidal currents.

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19. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

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List-I
(Ocean Current)		List-II
(Country)
A. Agulhas Current1. Peru
B. Humboldt Current2. South Africa
C. Labrador Current3. Argentina
D. Falkland Current4. Canada

Code :

A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2016
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Matching the ocean currents with the coastlines they flow along:
A. Agulhas Current is a warm current flowing along the east coast of Africa, near South Africa. (A-2)
B. Humboldt Current (or Peru Current) is a cold current flowing along the west coast of South America, near Peru and Chile. (B-1)
C. Labrador Current is a cold current flowing along the east coast of Canada. (C-4)
D. Falkland Current is a cold current flowing along the coast of Argentina. (D-3)
The correct combination is A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3.
Ocean currents are large-scale movements of water in the oceans. Understanding the typical locations of major currents is necessary to match them with nearby countries or regions.
Ocean currents significantly influence regional climates and marine ecosystems. The cold Humboldt Current contributes to the arid climate of the Atacama Desert and supports a productive marine environment. The warm Agulhas Current affects the climate of South Africa’s east coast. The cold Labrador and Falkland currents transport icebergs and contribute to cooling the North Atlantic and South Atlantic, respectively.

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20. Which one of the following is a cold ocean current ?

Which one of the following is a cold ocean current ?

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Brazilian Current
Gulf Stream
North Equatorial Current
California Current
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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The correct answer is D) California Current. The California Current is a cold ocean current flowing southward along the west coast of North America. The other options, Brazilian Current, Gulf Stream, and North Equatorial Current, are all warm ocean currents.
Ocean currents are classified as warm or cold based on whether they carry water from warmer regions to colder regions or vice-versa. The California Current originates in cooler northern waters and flows towards the equator.
Cold currents typically flow towards the equator along the western coasts of continents in tropical and subtropical latitudes, while warm currents flow towards the poles, often along the eastern coasts of continents.

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