Humboldt current: what is, causes and consequences

Humboldt’s current, also known as the Peruvian or current current of PeruIt is one cold oceanic current of great importance, which flows along the western coast of South America, extending in the Eastern South Pacific from Chile to Ecuadorincluding the Galapagos Islands. Discovered by him Spanish scientist José de Acosta and appointed in honor of the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldtwho described it, this current plays a crucial role in the weather and marine ecosystems in the region.

Humboldt’s current originates from the outcrop Very cold and rich deep watersthrough a phenomenon known as emergence, transforming this region into one of the most productive and fertile in the world.

We encourage you to read about the ecoregions of Peru and its characteristics and the Peruvian Sea: characteristics and animals.

• Origin and trajectory: The Humboldt current system is born from the bifurcation of the Antarctic Circumpolar current (42º lat. South) and flow to the north incorporating into the south-ecuatorial warm current (4th lat. South). However, its area of ​​influence includes the Gulf of Guayaquil, Galapagos Islands and Chilean fjords south of Chiloé Island.
• Marine ecosystem productivity: The great marine ecosystem of the Humboldt current (GEMCH) is one of the richest marine systems in biological productivity, supporting one of the greatest fishing productions. This is mainly due to the phenomenon of emergence, that is, to the emergence of deep water to the surface conducted thanks to the southern winds, which generally transports waters with a high content of nitrates and low dissolved oxygen content.
• Climate influence: Humboldt’s current plays a fundamental role in climate configuration along the coasts of South American countries. This cold current is responsible for particular climatic phenomena, such as the formation of dense coastal mist, locally known as ‘bedchecas’ in Chile and ‘garúas’ in Peru. These fogs are characteristic of the regions where the current flows, contributing to a significant decrease in temperatures, which are lower than what would be practically expected in these latitudes. In addition, it influences the reduction of rainfall, generating relatively cold coastal deserts, such as the Atacama desert in Chile and the Sechura desert in Peru.
• The child: The cyclic episodes of the climatic phenomenon known as El Niño, product of the heating of the surface waters of the Pacific, interfere in the climate generated by this current, causing climatic instabilities and manifesting through floods as well as floods and decreases in the richness of the oceans. In this link you can learn more about the El Niño phenomenon: what is, causes and consequences.
• Threats: Various investigations have evidenced a decrease in trophic levels within the great marine ecosystem of the Humboldt current (GEMCH), indicating an intense fishing exploitation that could be altering the predator-presa interactions and the ecosystem services it provides. In addition, the ecological integrity of this ecosystem faces increasing threats due to pollution caused by the demographic increase in coastal areas and poor management of urban, agricultural, industrial and miners. The effects of pollution are severely manifested in bays with poor water renewal, highlighting the urgent need to address these pressures to preserve the health and sustainability of the GEMCH.

Humboldt current formation is the result of a series of physical and geographical processes interconnected that act together. Its origin lies in the combined effects of Earth rotation movement and centrifugal force exerted by the oceanic water masses of the equatorial region. These elements contribute to the distribution and circulation of oceanic currents globally.

One of the main engines of the Humboldt current is the South Equatorial Currentwhich is driven west by the action of The Alisios winds. In this other post you can read more about the Alisios winds: what they are and how they form.

When meeting the South American continental mass, this current is diverted to the south and the east, where it cools and submerges, then being driven north by the dynamics of the earth’s rotation through the Coriolis effect. This ultimate phenomenon causes the currents to move to the left in the southern hemisphere, thus guiding the northern direction of the Humboldt current along the western coast of South America. Here you can learn more about the Coriolis effect: what is it, what it consists of and examples.

The consequences of the Humboldt current are vast and varied, affecting both marine ecosystems and regional and global climatic patterns. In ecological terms, the current promotes one of the richer fishing areas in the worldbeing the main livelihood for local economies and communities. This is due to the abundance of nutrients that support a vast diversity of marine lifeincluding phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, birds and marine mammals.

As for the weather, the current has a Moderator effect on coastal temperatureskeeping lower than would otherwise be, and contributes to the formation of extensive coastal desertslike the Atacama desert, limiting the amount of rainfall. In this link you can read why it does not rain in the Atacama desert.

However, the changes in the intensity or direction of the currentpossibly influenced by Climate changethey can alter these patterns, affecting both marine biodiversity and climatic conditions and, therefore, human activities dependent on these natural systems.

Now that you know better what the current of Humboldt is, its causes and consequences, we encourage you to know one of the curious animals that live in this area of ​​the planet: the Humboldt penguin. Here you can read about Humboldt’s penguin is in danger of extinction? In addition, for you to learn more about sea currents: what are, guys and how they form, we invite you to read our article.

If you want to read more articles similar to Humboldt current: what is, causes and consequenceswe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.