Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why is the Humboldt Current named after Alexander von Humboldt?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt, oil on canvas by Julius Schrader, 1859; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
The Humboldt Current is named after the German naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt because of the scientific measurements he conducted during his expedition to South America.12
In 1802, while exploring the region, Humboldt performed a series of measurements that demonstrated the coldness of the current's flow in relation to both the air above it and the surrounding sea. His work provided foundational insights into the nature of this oceanic feature, which is also known as the Peru Current.23