The Azores Current is a generally eastward to southeastward-flowing ocean current in the North Atlantic Ocean. It originates near the

Grand Banks of Newfoundland The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are a series of underwater plateaus south-east of the island of Newfoundland on the North American continental shelf. The Grand Banks are one of the world's richest fishing grounds, supporting Atlantic cod, swordf ...

where the Gulf Stream splits into two branches, the northern branch becoming the

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

and the south branch the Azores Current. Recent research suggests that the outflow of salty water from the Mediterranean Sea plays a role in strengthening the Azores Current.Özgökmen, T.M., E.P. Chassignet, and C.G.H. Rooth, 2001: On the Connection between the Mediterranean Outflow and the Azores Current. Journal of Physical Oceanography 31, 461–480.

References

{{physical oceanography Currents of the Atlantic Ocean