<p>This question is related to this <a href="https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/25958/where-is-the-amoc-located-in-this-fig">question</a>. I am currently trying to understand which currents in the North Atlantic are counted as part of the AMOC:</p>
<p>I am sure about the currents:</p>
<ol>
<li>N. Atlantic current</li>
<li>Norwegian Current</li>
<li>Gulf Stream</li>
</ol>
<p>For the currents:</p>
<ol>
<li>Norwegan Current</li>
<li>Baffin Bay</li>
<li>Canarias current</li>
<li>North Atlantic Deep Water Current</li>
<li>Irminger Current</li>
<li>West Greenland Current</li>
<li>E Greenland Current</li>
<li>Irminger Current</li>
<li>North Iceland Irminger Current</li>
</ol>
<p>I´m not so sure. I find some contradictory <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_Current" rel="nofollow noreferrer">literature</a> (I do know Wiki isn´t the best source but nice to get an overview) on these currents. Whilst some mention these currents, they are hardly mentioned in other <a href="https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/how-the-ocean-works/ocean-circulation/the-ocean-conveyor/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">literature</a>.</p>
<p>Even this figure didn´t make it clear which currents are related towards the AMOC</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ACzh8.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ACzh8.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Do you have a good list of which currents are included?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-10T11:39:55.347Z
I'm by no means an expert but you might be wrong with the gulf stream. As far as I know the AMOC is driven by thermohaline effects. The gulf stream, in contrast, is largely wind driven.
Joscha Fregin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-10T11:42:50.043Z
Hi thanks :) but When I google I found this: The best known segment of this circulation (AMOC) is the Gulf Stream, a wind-driven gyre, which transports warm water from the Caribbean northwards.  (Its from Wiki so this have to been taken with a grain of salt :))
Weiss
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-10T11:49:05.837Z
I guess it boils down to definitions. To me saying that the AMOC is a thermohaline circulation, which wikipedia does, and then giving a wind driven circulation as an example makes no sense.
Joscha Fregin
<oceanography><ocean-currents><ocean-models><amoc><northatlantic>
Which currents are counted as AMOC in the North Atlantic and which are not?
Weiss
# Which currents are counted as AMOC in the North Atlantic and which are not?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-02-11)

This question is related to this [question](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/25958/where-is-the-amoc-located-in-this-fig). I am currently trying to understand which currents in the North Atlantic are counted as part of the AMOC:

I am sure about the currents:

1. N. Atlantic current
2. Norwegian Current
3. Gulf Stream

For the currents:

1. Norwegan Current
2. Baffin Bay
3. Canarias current
4. North Atlantic Deep Water Current
5. Irminger Current
6. West Greenland Current
7. E Greenland Current
8. Irminger Current
9. North Iceland Irminger Current

I´m not so sure. I find some contradictory [literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Atlantic_Current) (I do know Wiki isn´t the best source but nice to get an overview) on these currents. Whilst some mention these currents, they are hardly mentioned in other [literature](https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/how-the-ocean-works/ocean-circulation/the-ocean-conveyor/).

Even this figure didn´t make it clear which currents are related towards the AMOC

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ACzh8.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ACzh8.png)

Do you have a good list of which currents are included?

**Tags:** oceanography, ocean-currents, ocean-models, amoc, northatlantic

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm by no means an expert but you might be wrong with the gulf stream. As far as I know the AMOC is driven by thermohaline effects. The gulf stream, in contrast, is largely wind driven.  
> **username_0**: Hi thanks :) but When I google I found this: The best known segment of this circulation (AMOC) is the Gulf Stream, a wind-driven gyre, which transports warm water from the Caribbean northwards.  (Its from Wiki so this have to been taken with a grain of salt :))  
> **username_1**: I guess it boils down to definitions. To me saying that the AMOC is a thermohaline circulation, which wikipedia does, and then giving a wind driven circulation as an example makes no sense.  

---

## 0 answers

