<p>The main reason is that the <a href="https://www.livescience.com/26273-gulf-stream.html" rel="noreferrer">Gulf Stream</a> transports warm surface water from the tropics, driven by the thermohaline circulation. The tropical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_winds" rel="noreferrer">trade winds</a> push surface water towards Western Atlantic and build up stress. Further north the dominant wind direction is towards the east. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_force" rel="noreferrer">Coriolois force</a> also helps to move the warm water masses towards the east.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Current" rel="noreferrer">Labrador Current</a>, on the other hand, brings cold water down West Atlantic Ocean. The thermohaline turnover is further south in West Atlantic Ocean. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UYeRb.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UYeRb.jpg" alt="Wikipedia RetAndr data from http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/2minrelief.html"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-08T11:43:06.883Z
2017-07-08T11:43:06.883Z
user2821
<p>Why is the surface waters in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean colder than the surface waters of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-08T07:06:47.703Z
one reason for this is the dominant wind direction,the wind blows from west and moves the hot surface water from west to east.
trond hansen
<ocean><oceanography><temperature><ocean-currents>
Difference in surface temperature between the Northwest Atlantic and Northeast Atlantic
Tochi
# Difference in surface temperature between the Northwest Atlantic and Northeast Atlantic

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-08)

Why is the surface waters in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean colder than the surface waters of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean?

**Tags:** ocean, oceanography, temperature, ocean-currents

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: one reason for this is the dominant wind direction,the wind blows from west and moves the hot surface water from west to east.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-07-08. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The main reason is that the [Gulf Stream](https://www.livescience.com/26273-gulf-stream.html) transports warm surface water from the tropics, driven by the thermohaline circulation. The tropical [trade winds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_winds) push surface water towards Western Atlantic and build up stress. Further north the dominant wind direction is towards the east. The [Coriolois force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_force) also helps to move the warm water masses towards the east.

The [Labrador Current](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Current), on the other hand, brings cold water down West Atlantic Ocean. The thermohaline turnover is further south in West Atlantic Ocean.

[![Wikipedia RetAndr data from http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/image/2minrelief.html](https://i.sstatic.net/UYeRb.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/UYeRb.jpg)


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