The North Atlantic Warm Current is a wind current.
The formation of ocean currents
According to the dominant factors in the formation of ocean currents, ocean currents can be divided into three types: wind currents, density currents and compensation currents. Blow by the prevailing wind, the surface water flows on a large scale in a certain direction, and the ocean currents formed in this way are called wind currents. (Most ocean currents in the world are wind currents) Different sea areas have different temperatures and salinities, resulting in uneven density distribution of sea water, causing the flow of sea water, which is called density current. The ocean current formed by the difference in wind force and density lowers the sea level in the sea area where the sea water flows out, and the sea water in the adjacent sea area flows over to supplement it. The ocean current formed in this way is called the compensating current. There are horizontal and vertical compensation flows. Vertical compensating flow is further divided into upwelling flow and downflowing flow. For example: There is obvious upwelling in the sea area near Peru. The shape of the land and the geostrophic deflection force also have a certain impact on the direction of ocean currents.
Classification by causes
Ocean currents are divided into wind currents, density currents and compensation currents according to their causes. Wind currents (blowing currents) are also called blowing currents and drifts: formed under the action of wind. The prevailing wind blows the sea surface, pushing the seawater to drift with the wind, and causing the upper seawater to drive the lower seawater to flow, forming a large-scale ocean current called wind current. Most of the ocean systems on the surface of the world's oceans are wind currents in terms of their origin. Ocean current flow direction
Density currents are caused by differences in density. The difference in seawater temperature and salinity in different sea areas will cause differences in seawater density, thereby causing differences in seawater levels. The tilt of the sea surface will occur between two sea areas with different seawater densities, causing the flow of seawater. The ocean current formed in this way is called is the density flow. Compensatory flow is caused by the squeezing or dispersion of sea water. When the sea water in a certain sea area decreases, the sea water in the adjacent sea area will replenish it. The ocean current formed in this way is called compensating current. Compensating flow can flow horizontally or vertically. Vertical compensating flow can be divided into upwelling flow and downwelling flow. For example, the Peruvian cold current belongs to upwelling compensating flow. To sum up, the main cause of ocean currents is the difference in wind power and seawater density. The actual ocean currents are always the result of a combination of factors.