How does the Caribbean Current flow through the Caribbean Sea?

The Caribbean Current is a powerful surface oceanic current that flows westward through the Caribbean Sea.1

This current is formed by the junction of the North Equatorial Current and the Guiana Current. Driven by trade winds, surface waters enter the Caribbean primarily through the channels and passages of the southern Antilles.12

As the current moves through the sea, it is forced toward the Yucatán Channel. Upon exiting the Caribbean Sea through this channel, the water flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Eventually, it passes north through the Straits of Florida to form the Florida Current, which is a primary contributor to the Gulf Stream. The current flows at an average rate of 38 to 43 cm per second and transports approximately 27,500,000 cubic meters of water per second.12