The South Atlantic Gyre is the
subtropical gyre in the south
Atlantic Ocean. In the southern portion of the gyre, northwesterly (or southeastward-flowing) winds drive eastward-flowing currents that are difficult to distinguish from the northern boundary of the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current.[1] Like other oceanic gyres, it collects vast amounts of floating debris as a
garbage patch.[2]
South of this gyre is the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This current flows from West to East around
Antarctica. Another name for this current is the West Wind Drift. This current allows Antarctica to maintain its huge ice sheet by keeping warm ocean waters away. At approximately 125
Sv, this current is the largest ocean current.[3]
^Guhin, S.; Ray, P.; Mariano, A. J.; Ryan, E. H. (2003).
"The South Atlantic Current". Ocean Surface Currents. Archived from
the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
^Smith, R.; Desflots, M.; White, S.; Mariano, A. J.; Ryan, E. H. (2013).
"The Antarctic Circumpolar Current". Ocean Surface Currents. Archived from
the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
^Bischof, B.; Rowe, E.; Mariano, A. J.; Ryan, E. H. (2004).
"The Brazil Current". Ocean Surface Currents. Archived from
the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2009.