What is "gulf stream"

Gulf \Gulf\ (g[u^]lf), n. [F. golfe, It. golfo, fr. Gr. ko`lpos bosom, bay, gulf, LGr. ko`lfos.]

1. A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin,

   He then surveyed Hell and the gulf between.
   --Milton.

   Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.
   --Luke xvi. 26.

2. That which swallows; the gullet. [Obs.]
   --Shak.

3. That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
   --Shak.

   A gulf of ruin, swallowing gold.
   --Tennyson.

4. (Geog.) A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially land-locked sea; as, the Gulf of Mexico.

5. (Mining) A large deposit of ore in a lode.

   Gulf Stream (Geog.), the warm ocean current of the North Atlantic.

   Note: It originates in the westward equatorial current, due to the trade winds, is deflected northward by Cape St. Roque through the Gulf of Mexico, and flows parallel to the coast of North America, turning eastward off the island of Nantucket. Its average rate of flow is said to be about two miles an hour. The similar Japan current, or Kuro-Siwo, is sometimes called the Gulf Stream of the Pacific.

   Gulf weed (Bot.), a branching seaweed ( Sargassum bacciferum, or sea grape), having numerous berrylike air vessels, -- found in the Gulf Stream, in the Sargasso Sea, and elsewhere.

Stream \Stream\ (str[=e]m), n. [AS. stre['a]m; akin to OFries. str[=a]m, OS. str[=o]m, D. stroom, G. strom, OHG. stroum, str[=u]m, Dan. & Sw. str["o]m, Icel. straumr, Ir. sroth, Lith. srove, Russ. struia, Gr. "ry`sis a flowing, "rei^n to flow, Skr. sru. [root]174. Cf. Catarrh, Diarrhea, Rheum, Rhythm.]

1. A current of water or other fluid; a liquid flowing continuously in a line or course, either on the earth, as a river, brook, etc., or from a vessel, reservoir, or fountain; specifically, any course of running water; as, many streams are blended in the Mississippi; gas and steam came from the earth in streams; a stream of molten lead from a furnace; a stream of lava from a volcano.

2. A beam or ray of light. ``Sun streams.''
   --Chaucer.

3. Anything issuing or moving with continued succession of parts; as, a stream of words; a stream of sand. ``The stream of beneficence.''
   --Atterbury. ``The stream of emigration.''
   --Macaulay.

4. A continued current or course; as, a stream of weather. ``The very stream of his life.''
   --Shak.

5. Current; drift; tendency; series of tending or moving causes; as, the stream of opinions or manners.

   Gulf stream. See under Gulf.

   Stream anchor, Stream cable. (Naut.) See under Anchor, and Cable.

   Stream ice, blocks of ice floating in a mass together in some definite direction.

   Stream tin, particles or masses of tin ore found in alluvial ground; -- so called because a stream of water is the principal agent used in separating the ore from the sand and gravel.

   Stream works (Cornish Mining), a place where an alluvial deposit of tin ore is worked.
   --Ure.

   To float with the stream, figuratively, to drift with the current of opinion, custom, etc., so as not to oppose or check it.

   Syn: Current; flow; rush; tide; course.

   Usage: Stream, Current. These words are often properly interchangeable; but stream is the broader word, denoting a prevailing onward course. The stream of the Mississippi rolls steadily on to the Gulf of Mexico, but there are reflex currents in it which run for a while in a contrary direction.

The Gulf Stream is a warm Atlantic Ocean current.

Gulf Stream or Gulfstream may also refer to:

The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and stretches to the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The process of western intensification causes the Gulf Stream to be a northward accelerating current off the east coast of North America. At about , it splits in two, with the northern stream, the North Atlantic Drift, crossing to Northern Europe and the southern stream, the Canary Current, recirculating off West Africa.

The Gulf Stream influences the climate of the east coast of North America from Florida to Newfoundland, and the west coast of Europe. Although there has been recent debate, there is consensus that the climate of Western Europe and Northern Europe is warmer than it would otherwise be due to the North Atlantic drift which is the northeastern section of the Gulf Stream. It is part of the North Atlantic Gyre. Its presence has led to the development of strong cyclones of all types, both within the atmosphere and within the ocean. The Gulf Stream is also a significant potential source of renewable power generation.

The Gulf Stream is typically 100 kilometres (62 mi) wide and 800 metres (2,600 ft) to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) deep. The current velocity is fastest near the surface, with the maximum speed typically about 2.5 metres per second (5.6 mph).