Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent

The Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent is an eastward-flowing ocean current located near the equator, primarily between 3° and 10° N latitude. It flows in the opposite direction to the westward-moving equatorial currents on either side of it. This phenomenon occurs because the trade winds push water westward, raising sea levels in the west. Within the doldrums, where winds are weak, this higher water flows eastward downslope. The Pacific Equatorial Countercurrent is notably strong and present year-round. It is part of a larger system that includes the North and South Equatorial Currents, which flow westward and are controlled by winds.12