Alaska Current

Alaska Current

The Alaska Current is a northward warm-water current along the coast of British Columbia and the Alaska Panhandle. The current results from the northward diversion of a portion of the North Pacific Current when that current meets the west coast of the North American continent. It forms a part of the counterclockwise gyre in the Gulf of Alaska. In contrast to typical sub-Arctic Pacific water, Alaska Current water is characterized by temperatures above 39° F (4° C) and surface salinities below 32.6 parts per thousand.

In the northern Gulf of Alaska, the Alaska Current continues into the Alaskan Stream, which begins near Kodiak Island and flows southwestward along the Alaska Peninsula.

The Alaska Current produces large clockwise eddies at two sites: west of the Queen Charlotte Islands ("Queen Charlotte Eddy" or "Haida Eddies") and west of Sitka ("Sitka Eddy").


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alaska Current — an ocean current flowing counterclockwise in the Gulf of Alaska. * * * ▪ current, Gulf of Alaska       surface oceanic current, a branch of the West Wind Drift that forms a counterclockwise gyre in the Gulf of Alaska. In contrast to typical sub… …   Universalium

  • Alaska Current — an ocean current flowing counterclockwise in the Gulf of Alaska …   Useful english dictionary

  • Alaska (disambiguation) — Alaska is a state in the United States of America. Alaska may also mean:Placenames* Alaska Current (Pacific Ocean), a warm water eddie current * Alaska Highway (Canada, United States) * Alaska, Michigan (United States), an unincorporated area in… …   Wikipedia

  • Alaska, Gulf of — Gulf, southern Alaska, U.S. Situated between the Alaska Peninsula and the Alexander Archipelago, it receives the Susitna and Copper rivers. Ports on the gulf include Anchorage, Seward, and Valdez; the last is North America s northernmost ice free …   Universalium

  • Alaska Airlines — IATA AS ICAO ASA Callsign ALASKA …   Wikipedia

  • Alaska — • The first knowledge of Alaska was acquired in 1741 through the expedition under Vitus Bering, a Dane in the Russian service, who sailed from Okhoysk Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Alaska     Alaska …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Alaska Zoo — Date opened 1969[1] Location 4731 O Malley Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 99507 USA Land area …   Wikipedia

  • Alaska political corruption probe — refers to a widespread investigation from 2003 to the present by the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service into political corruption of lawmakers in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Alaska Democratic Party — Chairman Patti Higgins Senate leader None (Coalition) House leader Beth Kerttula Ideology American Liberalism …   Wikipedia

  • Alaska Pacific University — Established 1957 Type Private Religious affiliation United Methodist …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”