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Who named the Gulf Stream and why?
Western boundary currents are normally very warm, deep, and narrow currents that carry water from the tropics to the poles. The Gulf Stream was first discovered in 1513 by the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and was then used extensively by Spanish ships as they traveled from the Caribbean to Spain.
Who first charted the Gulf Stream?
Benjamin Franklin was the first to chart the Gulf Stream This copy of the first chart of the Gulf Stream was printed in 1786, ten years after Benjamin Franklin first drew it up. (Library of Congress/Constantino Brumidi Fresco/US Capitol)
Who first mapped the Gulf Stream?
The Gulf Stream was first discovered in 1513 by the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and was then used extensively by Spanish ships as they traveled from the Caribbean to Spain. In 1786, Benjamin Franklin mapped the current, further increasing its usage.
Why is the Gulf Stream called Gulf Stream?
9.2 The Gulf Stream The primary surface current along the east coast of the United States is the Gulf Stream, which was first mapped by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century (Figure 9.2.1).As a strong, fast current, it reduced the sailing time for ships traveling from the United States back to Europe, so sailors would use thermometers to locate its warm water and stay within the current.
Who founded the Gulf Stream?
The Gulf Stream was first described by the Spanish navigator and explorer Juan Ponce de León early in the 16th century. In the late 1700s Benjamin Franklin produced a map of the current. In 1844 systematic surveying of the stream was begun by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
How did Benjamin Franklin discover the Gulf Stream?
Franklin made eight voyages across the Atlantic Ocean (or, as it was known then, the Western Ocean) between the Colonies and Europe. He wondered why journeys eastward were faster than return trips. His curiosity led him to be the first to map the Gulf Stream.
Why was Benjamin Franklin so interested in the Gulf Stream?
Franklin was the first to refer to the Gulf Stream as a “river in the ocean.” As Deputy Postmaster General of the American colonies, Franklin promoted using the Gulf Stream to speed up delivery of mail from America to Europe, as well as to improve other commercial shipping.
Who made the first map of the Gulf coast?
Alonso Álvarez de PinedaOne of the very first known maps of Texas and the Gulf Coast region was drawn by the Spanish explorer and cartographer, Alonso Álvarez de Pineda.
What did Benjamin Franklin discover?
Benjamin Franklin's Inventions In the 1740s, he conducted experiments that contributed to the understanding of electricity, and invented the lightning rod, which protected buildings from fires caused by lightning. In 1752, he conducted his famous kite experiment and demonstrated that lightning is electricity.
What did Benjamin Franklin invent?
Lightning rodGlass harmonicaBifocalsHand paddleFranklin stoveFranklin's electrostatic machineBenjamin Franklin/InventionsHe invented: Franklin/Pennsylvania stove (1741) Lightning rod (1750) Flexible catheter (1752) 24-hour, three-wheel clock that was much simpler than other designs of the day (1757)
Who was the first to chart the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean?
Benjamin Franklin is known for shaping the Constitution, writing letters as a woman, chowing down on native foods and hosting an anatomy school in his home. What doesn't often get mentioned is that he was also the first to chart the Gulf Stream.
How did Benjamin Franklin become famous?
In the early 1750's he turned to the study of electricity. His observations, including his kite experiment which verified the nature of electricity and lightning brought Franklin international fame.
Why Benjamin Franklin is a hero?
Benjamin Franklin did many things that helped America and the world. He discovered electricity, invented fire companies, police, and the lightning rod, Bifocals, the Franklin Stove, Swim Fins, Glass Armonica, the Odometer, and the "Long Arm". He also he signed all the documents that enabled America's independence.
Who owns Gulf of Mexico?
Not only does it border five U.S. states – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida– but the Gulf of Mexico also borders Cuba and part of Mexico.
Who Mapped the Texas coast?
explorer Alonso Álvarez de PiñedaIn 1519, the explorer Alonso Álvarez de Piñeda became the first European to map the Texas Gulf Coast.
Does Texas have a coastline?
With 350-plus miles of coastline, Texas has sandy beaches for days. Here, the top five beaches in the Lone Star State.
How did Ben Franklin improve sea travel?
Franklin makes suggestions to account for wind resistance in an improved sail configuration and designs experiments to test them; he proposes improvements to anchor cables in order to keep them from being lost or doing damage to the ship; he suggests partitioning the holds of ships into separate watertight compartments ...
When did Gulf Stream start?
Gulfstream designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services business jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,000 aircraft since 1958....Gulfstream Aerospace.TypeSubsidiaryFounded1958HeadquartersSavannah, Georgia, United StatesArea servedWorldwideKey peopleMark Burns (President)5 more rows
When did the Gulf Stream begin?
European discovery of the Gulf Stream dates to the 1512 expedition of Juan Ponce de León, after which it became widely used by Spanish ships sailing from the Caribbean to Spain.
How did the Gulf Stream get its name?
Franklin is generally given credit for correctly explaining the stream's cause. Franklin even suggested the name "Gulf Stream," even though it is a huge, circular motion in the Atlantic Ocean and has little to do with the Gulf of Mexico.
When was the Gulf Stream discovered?
European discovery of the Gulf Stream dates to the 1512 expedition of Juan Ponce de León, after which it became widely used by Spanish ships sailing from the Caribbean to Spain. A summary of Ponce de León's voyage log on April 22, 1513, noted, "A current such that, although they had great wind, they could not proceed forwards, but backwards and it seems that they were proceeding well; at the end it was known that the current was more powerful than the wind."
Where does the Gulf Stream originate?
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension the North Atlantic Drift, is a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and stretches to the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean as the North Atlantic Current.
How many sverdrups does the Gulf Stream have?
As it passes south of Newfoundland, this rate increases to 150 sverdrups. The volume of the Gulf Stream dwarfs all rivers that empty into the Atlantic combined, which total 0.6 sverdrups. It is weaker, however, than the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
What causes the Gulf Stream to be stronger than the Gulf Stream?
This overall process, known as western intensification, causes currents on the western boundary of an ocean basin, such as the Gulf Stream, to be stronger than those on the eastern boundary. As a consequence, the resulting Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current.
What is the Gulf Stream?
The Gulf Stream influences the climate of the east coast of North America from Florida to Newfoundland, and the west coast of Europe. Although there has been recent debate, there is consensus that the climate of Western Europe and Northern Europe is warmer than other areas of similar latitude because of the North Atlantic Current.
Why is the Gulf Stream important to Massachusetts?
Also, the Gulf Stream's proximity to Nantucket, Massachusetts adds to its biodiversity, because it is the northern limit for southern varieties of plant life, and the southern limit for northern plant species, Nantucket being warmer during winter than the mainland . The North Atlantic Current of the Gulf Stream, along with similar warm air currents, ...
Where does the Gulf Stream flow?
A river of sea water, called the Atlantic North Equatorial Current, flows westwards off the coast of Central Africa. When this current interacts with the northeastern coast of South America, the current forks into two branches.
When was the Gulf Stream map published?
Franklin published this map of the Gulf Stream in 1769, 200 years before a submersible named after him drifted below the surface to study this river in the ocean.
When did the US Coast Survey begin?
In 1843, the United States Coast Survey, NOAA’s earliest “ancestor,” set out to study the Gulf Stream in more detail. They wanted to determine the depth of the water, the temperature of the water at different depths, the characteristics of the ocean bottom, the direction and velocity of the currents at different depths, ...
Who was the first person to chart the Gulf Stream?
Benjamin Franklin was the first person to chart the Gulf Stream.
How many oceanic gyres are there?
There are five oceanic gyres on Earth. The Gulf Stream is part of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. This world map shows the five oceanic gyres and how they impact ocean circulation. Credit: NOAA. The ocean is constantly in motion, moving water from place to place via currents. The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the Gulf ...
What is the Gulf of Mexico?
The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean. It extends all the way up the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that carries warm water up the eastern coast of the United states and Canada and on to western Europe.
What is the Gulf Stream?
The Short Answer: The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean. It extends all the way up the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current that brings warm water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean.
How does the Gulf Stream affect weather?
How does the Gulf Stream impact weather and climate? This strong current of warm water influence s the climate of the east coast of Florida, keeping temperatures there warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than the other southeastern states.
What happens when warm water comes in?
As the warm water comes in, colder, denser water sinks and begins moving south—event ually flowing along the bottom of the ocean all the way to Antarctica. This animation shows the Gulf Stream sending warm water to the North Atlantic Ocean, forcing colder water to sink and travel southward.
How long have we known about the Gulf Stream?
We’ve known about the Gulf Stream for more than 500 years! In 1513, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon noted that there was a strong current in this location. A few years later, Ponce de Leon’s ship pilot realized that the Gulf Stream could help speed up the sailing trip from Mexico to Spain. In the late 18th century, ...
What can satellite images show?
Satellite images of sea surface temperature can show the path of the warm Gulf Stream current with great precision. Knowing the sea surface temperature can give scientists information about what is happening in and around the ocean. Changes in this temperature can influence the behavior of fish, cause the bleaching of corals, ...
Why did Benjamin Franklin study the Gulf Stream?
In true Franklin fashion, he came to study the Gulf Stream because of a question, writes Laura Bliss for City Lab. It was 1768, when he was working in London as deputy postmaster general for mail to and from the American colonies. Franklin was talking to his cousin, Timothy Folger, who was the captain of a merchant ship.
Why did Franklin give the Gulph Stream directions?
Franklin gave copies to his mail ships, but they seem to have ignored the directions. When Franklin shifted allegiances during the American Revolution, he gave ‘Gulph Stream’ directions to America’s French allies, cementing the importance of knowing the stream for European mariners.
What did Benjamin Franklin do?
Benjamin Franklin is known for shaping the Constitution, writing letters as a woman, chowing down on native foods and hosting an anatomy school in his home. What doesn’t often get mentioned is that he was also the first to chart the Gulf Stream.
Did Franklin make observations of the stream?
Although Franklin did make observations of the stream and write them down, “the accuracy of the chart is really due to Folger and his inherited whaling knowledge,” Bliss writes. “But Franklin was the one with the good instincts to map it, and that, combined with his general eminence, has landed him with most of the credit.”.
When was the Gulf Stream discovered?
He completed the first scientific study of the current on this day in 1775 , according to Today in Science History. The Gulf Stream is an ocean current that moves clockwise through the Gulf of Mexico and up along the eastern coastline of North America.
Who was the first European to observe and write about the Gulf Stream?
The first European to observe and write about the Gulf Stream was Juan Ponce de León, writes Jared Lloyd for the Coastal Review Online. After leaving the Spanish colony of Puerto Rico, de León and his crew sailed north searching for new lands to plunder and pillage.
Where were the art stolen during the Nazi occupation?
During the Nazi occupation of France, many valuable works of art were stolen from the Jeu de Paume museum and relocated to Germany. One brave French woman kept detailed notes of the thefts
How did the Gulf Stream affect the colonization of North America?
The primary answer is the flow of the Gulf Stream, bad weather and poor judgment. The Gulf Stream exerted a tremendous influence on the colonization of North America. Most all colonization from Virginia to the south chose the southern route across the Atlantic even though it was 2,000-3,000 miles farther. Few return voyages to Europe failed ...
What was the name of the industry that was used to salvage goods from wrecked ships?
Soon an industry followed known as "wrecking," or salvaging goods from wrecked ships. The Bahamians perfected the wrecking industry. When Florida became a U.S. territory, Key West and Indian Key became the Keys' primary headquarters for this industry.
What is the science of hindsight?
Historians can be called "the scientists of hindsight.". Hindsight can be focused on a single event or a chain of events. Much of Keys history is chained to the great quantity of ships passing, or trying to pass, their shores since they were discovered. Why are thousands of ships lying sunken on and off our reefs?
How much water does the Florida Straits have?
Its volume through the Florida Straits is about 30 million cubic meters per second - that is a lot of sea water! For a comparison, the combined volume of all the rivers that empty the Atlantic is about 0.6 million cubic meters per second.
Where does the Gulf Stream flow?
Its current is more rapid than the Mississippi or the Amazon.". The Gulf Stream generally flows northward between the Keys and Cuba up the northeast coast toward Cape Hatteras and then turns eastward across the north Atlantic.
How wide is the Florida River?
Its width varies, but generally is 40 to 50 miles in width.
Which ship was the first to sail northward through the Florida Straits?
Few return voyages to Europe failed to utilize at least part of the Gulf Stream. Cortez was perhaps the first to send large numbers of ships from Mexico northward through the Florida Straits, then eastward following the clockwise motion of the Gulf Stream to return to Spain.
Overview
History
European discovery of the Gulf Stream dates to the 1512 expedition of Juan Ponce de León, after which it became widely used by Spanish ships sailing from the Caribbean to Spain. A summary of Ponce de León's voyage log on April 22, 1513, noted, "A current such that, although they had great wind, they could not proceed forwards, but backwards and it seems that they were proceeding well…
Properties
The Gulf Stream proper is a western-intensified current, driven largely by wind stress. The North Atlantic Drift, in contrast, is largely driven by thermohaline circulation. In 1958, oceanographer Henry Stommel noted that "very little water from the Gulf of Mexico is actually in the stream". By carrying warm water northeast across the Atlantic, it makes Western Europe and especially Northern Europe warmer and milder than it otherwise would be.
Formation and behaviour
A river of sea water, called the Atlantic North Equatorial Current, flows westwards off the coast of Central Africa. When this current interacts with the northeastern coast of South America, the current forks into two branches. One passes into the Caribbean Sea, while a second, the Antilles Current, flows north and east of the West Indies. These two branches rejoin north of the Straits of Fl…
Localized effects
The Gulf Stream is influential on the climate of the Florida peninsula. The portion off the Florida coast, referred to as the Florida Current, maintains an average water temperature of at least 24 °C (75 °F) during the winter. East winds moving over this warm water move warm air from over the Gulf Stream inland, helping to keep temperatures milder across the state than elsewhere across the Southeastern United States during the winter. Also, the Gulf Stream's proximity to Nantucket,
Gulf Stream Collapse
The possibility of a Gulf Stream collapse has been covered by many news publications. The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report addressed this issue specifically, and found that based on model projections and theoretical understanding, the Gulf Stream will not shut down in a warming climate. While the Gulf Stream is expected to slow down as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) weakens, it will not collapse even if the AMOC were to collapse. Nevertheles…
Effect on cyclone formation
The warm water and temperature contrast along the edge of the Gulf Stream often increase the intensity of cyclones, tropical or otherwise. Tropical cyclone generation normally requires water temperatures in excess of 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). Tropical cyclone formation is common over the Gulf Stream, especially in the month of July. Storms travel westwards through the Caribbean and then eithe…
Gulf Stream Rings
The Gulf Stream periodically forms rings resulting from a meander of the Gulf Stream being closed off from an alternate route distinctive from that meander, creating an independent eddy. Of these eddies, there are two types: cold core rings, which rotate cyclonically, and warm core rings, which rotate anti cyclonically. These rings have the capacity to transport the distinct biological, chemical, and physical properties of their originating waters to the new waters into which they tr…