northern extension europe powerful warm swift atlantic ocean current originates gulf_of_mexico stretches tip florida follows eastern coastlines united_states newfoundland crossing atlantic_ocean process western intensification causes northward accelerating current east coast north_america splits northern stream crossing southern stream west_africa influences climate east coast north_america florida newfoundland west coast europe recent debate consensus climate western_europe warmer north_atlantic drift northeastern section presence led development strong cyclones types atmosphere ocean significant potential source power generation typically kilometres wide metres metres deep current velocity fastest near surface maximum speed typically metres second mph history european discovery dates expedition juan widely spanish ships sailing caribbean spain summary voyage log april noted current great wind proceed forward backward proceeding end known current powerful wind existence known interested circulation patterns england franklin heard curious complaint british weeks longer reach new_york england took average american merchant ship reach newport rhode_island despite merchant ships leaving london having sail river_thames length sailed atlantic left cornwall franklin asked cousin twice removed island captain answer explained merchant ships routinely crossed unnamed identifying whale behavior measurement water temperature speed bubbles surface changes water color mail captains ran franklin worked experienced ship captains learning chart giving known today offered information secretary ignored british sea captains franklin chart published england ignored subsequent versions printed france properties proper western intensified current driven largely wind stress contrast largely circulation driven noted little water gulf_of_mexico actually stream carrying warm water northeast atlantic makes western especially warmer extent contribution actual temperature differential north_america europe matter dispute recent minority opinion science community temperature difference caused contrasting maritime continental climates mainly atmospheric waves created rocky_mountains formation behaviour river sea water called flows westward coast current northeastern coast south_america current branches passes caribbean_sea second antilles current flows north east west_indies branches rejoin north trade winds blow westward tropics blow eastward mid latitudes wind pattern applies stress subtropical ocean surface negative north atlantic_ocean resulting transport conservation potential caused northward moving winds subtropical ridge western periphery increased relative northward moving water transport balanced narrow accelerating current flows western boundary ocean basin effects friction western boundary current known current conservation potential causes bends occasionally break shift position forming separate warm cold overall process known western intensification causes currents western boundary ocean basin stronger eastern boundary consequence resulting strong ocean current transports water rate million cubic meters second passes south newfoundland rate increases million cubic metres second volume rivers atlantic combined barely total million cubic metres second weaker typically kilometres wide metres metres deep current velocity fastest near surface maximum speed typically metres second mph travels north warm water transported undergoes cooling cooling wind driven wind moving water causes cooling water increasing density sea ice forms left ice process known exclusion processes produce water colder precisely water liquid lower temperature water dense begins sink dense water convective action unlike lava lamp cold dense water stream little lies current lies clusters east effects influential climate florida peninsula portion florida coast referred florida current maintains average water temperature winter east winds moving warm water warm air inland helping temperatures state southeast winter proximity massachusetts adds biodiversity northern limit southern varieties plant life southern limit northern plant species warmer winter mainland gulf stream similar warm air currents helps ireland western coast great_britain couple degrees warmer east difference dramatic western coastal islands scotland noticeable effect strong westerly winds driven warm water europe occurs norwegian coast northern parts norway lie close arctic zone covered ice snow winter norway coast remains free ice snow year weather systems warmed drift warming climate scandinavian mountains effect cyclone formation warm water temperature contrast edge increase intensity cyclones tropical tropical cyclone generation normally requires water temperatures excess tropical cyclone formation common especially month july storms travel westward caribbean northward direction curve eastern coast united_states stay north westward track enter gulf_of_mexico storms potential create strong winds extensive damage southeast coastal areas strong extratropical cyclones shown significantly shallow frontal zone forced cold season subtropical cyclones tend generate near percent systems documented formed near warm water current annual peaks activity occurring months october cyclones ocean form extending deep metres beneath ocean surface possible power source theoretical maximum energy dissipation turbines range idea supply equivalent power nuclear power plants deploy field underwater turbines placed meters center core ocean thermal energy produce electricity utilizing temperature difference cold deep water warm surface water culture victims bodies found rescue recovery ships sent find carried away
Gulf Stream