Equatorial Countercurrent

The Equatorial Countercurrent is a eastward-flowing ocean current that occurs in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans near the equator. It runs opposite to the usual westward flow of the trade winds-driven currents. This current develops because of the movement and balancing of water masses on either side of the equator, caused by the Earth's rotation and wind patterns. When the trade winds push water westward, a pile-up occurs, and water from the higher regions moves back eastward along the equator in the countercurrent. This process helps regulate sea surface temperatures and influences climate patterns in tropical regions.