It is better if you consult a geographical map when reading this or you may get lost.

In both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere components of the immense basin of the Pacific Ocean, surface flows are

dominated by the North and South subtropical gyres. However, the lesser circulations of both the north and south

tropical and subpolar gyres are also evident in the Pacific Ocean.

Currents of the North Pacific Ocean:
The part of the Pacific Ocean lying north of equator is the North Pacific Ocean. There are several gyres which run

through this part.

North Pacific Tropical Gyre:
It comprises the low-latitude equatorial counter-current and the north equatorial current. The north equatorial

current flows from east to west, increasing in volume as it flows westwards. Starting from the west coast of Central

America, it reaches Philippines Islands.

North Pacific Subtropical Gyre:
The limbs of this gyre are constituted by the clockwise flow of the north equatorial current, Japan current (Kuroshio

Current), North Pacific Current and California Currents. These are briefly explained now:

Kuroshio Current: On reaching Phillipines Islands, the North Equatorial Current turns northwards under the influence

of the sea floor architecture. It reaches the coasts of Taiwan and Japan where it is known as Kuroshio or Kuro Siwo

or Japan Currents.

North Pacific Current: On reaching the coastal line of Japan, the Kuroshio Current is influenced by the waterline and

flows eastward as North Pacific Current.

California Current: When the current reaches the west shores of North America, it divides into two branches. One

moves northwards while the other turns towards the south. This southern branch washes the coast of California and is

known by the same name. The California CUrrent meets the North Equatorial CUrrent to complete the loop. This whole

loop is called the cool current due to its movements from the cold to the warm regions.

North Pacific Subpolar Gyre:
This consists of the uuper-mid-latitude loop of the North Pacific Current, Alaska Current and Oyashio Current. This

runs mainly on the north most part of the Pacific Ocean near the polar regions of the north. Brief details are as

under:

Alaska Current: The northern branch of the North Pacific Current flows anti-clockwise along the coast of Alaska and

is named the Alaska Current.

Oyashio or Kamchatka Current: This cold current starts from the Bering Strait and flows southwards to reach Kamchatka

Peninsula.

Okhotsk Current: It meets the Oyashio Current off Hokkasido Coastline.

Now the South Pacific Ocean Currents are discussed. One interesting thing to note is that the South Pacific Ocean is

a mirror image of the Northern Hemisphere flow patterns except for the fully expected replacement of the subpolar

gyre by the globe-encircling movement of the West Wind Drift.

South Pacific Tropical Gyre:
Consists of Equatorial Counter-Current and the South Equatorial Current. The South Equatorial Current is a warm

current which flows parallel to the equator from the coast of Central America to the east coast of Australia. The

Equatorial Counter-Current is the boundary between the North and South Gyre System and balances the flow of water

from the west to the east.

South Pacific Subtropical Gyre:
This strong gyre dominates the circulation of the South Pacific including the Equatorial Current, East Australian

Current, South Pacific Current and Peru Current.

East Australian Current: On reaching the shores of Australia, the South Equatorial Current turns south under the

influence of the coriolis force and flows along the east coast of Australia.

South Pacific Current: The East Australian Current comes in contact with the Antarctic Drift and under its influence

starts flowing east.

Peru Current: On reaching the south western coastline of South America, the current turns north. It comes in contact with the Peru's coastline and hence the name. This ultimately joins the South Equatorial Current and completes the loop.