Question

Which among the following statements about the North Atlantic Drift is/are correct?
1) It keeps the West coast of Northern Europe ice free.
2) It is responsible for the warm air mass which interacts with the cold air mass from the Polar region and causes rainfall in Western Europe.
3) It meets the Labrador current near Vancouver Island and causes dense fog.
Select the correct answer using the – codes given below.
A) 1, 2 and 3
B) 1 and 2
C) Only 2
D) 1 and 3

Answer 1

Hint:
The North Atlantic Drift is also known as the North Atlantic Current (NAC) and North Atlantic Sea Movement. It is within the Atlantic Ocean and is a powerful warm western boundary current that extends the Gulf Stream northeastward.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The North Atlantic Drift originates from where the Gulf Stream turns north at the Southeast Newfoundland Rise. Before turning sharply east to cross the Atlantic, the North Atlantic Drift or NAC flows northward east of the Grand Banks. Than any other boundary current, NAC transports more warm tropical water to northern latitudes. It transports 20 Sv as it crosses the Mid – Atlantic Ridge and more than 40 Sv in the South. Near the North American coast, it reaches a speed of 2 knots. Near the ‘tail’ of the Grand Banks, the colder parts of the Gulf Stream turn northward where the Azores Current branches off to flow south of the Azores. The NAC flows northeastward from there, east of Flemish Cap. It turns eastward as it approaches the Mid – Atlantic Ridge and becomes much broader and more diffuse. Then it splits into a warmer eastern branch and a colder northeastern branch. Most of the subtropical component of the Gulf Stream is diverted southward as the warmer branch turns southward. Including a contribution from the Labrador Current recirculated into the NAC, the North Atlantic is mostly supplied by subpolar waters. The North Atlantic Drift keeps the West coast of Northern Europe ice free. It is also responsible for the warm air mass which interacts with the cold air mass from the Polar region and causes rainfall in Western Europe.

Thus, option (B) is correct.

Note:
If the North Atlantic Drift or NAC stops then the climate could change significantly, particularly in some countries in the North Atlantic and in Europe. The temperature in these countries would drop which affects humans as well as plants and animals.