Humboldt Current

A cold ocean current of the South Pacific, flowing north along the western coast of South America. Also called Peru Current.

[After Baron Friedrich Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Humboldt Current

(ˈhʌmbəʊlt)

(Physical Geography) a cold ocean current of the S Pacific, flowing north along the coasts of Chile and Peru. Also called: Peru Current

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Peru′ Cur′rent

a cold Pacific Ocean current flowing N along the coasts of Chile and Peru. Also called Humboldt Current.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

Humboldt current - a cold ocean current that flows north along the Pacific Coast of South America before turning west

Peruvian current

ocean current - the steady flow of surface ocean water in a prevailing direction

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References in periodicals archive

The key factor is the influence of the Pacific Ocean and the Humboldt Current.

WINE with Andy Cronshaw

The anchovy, Engraulis ringens Jenyns, 1842, is a small pelagic fish exploited for its high commercial value in the Humboldt Current System.

Development and characterization of thirty-two microsatellite markers for the anchovy, Engraulis ringens Jenyns, 1842 (Clupeiformes, Engraulidae) via 454 pyrosequencing

2) is an oceanic upwelling center where the thermocline is shallow (Sasai et al., 2007), whereas the waters off Peru (PE) are primarily affected by the cold northward flowing Humboldt Current and are associated with strong upwelling of cool subsurface waters (Chavez et al., 2008).

Geographic variations of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) based on gladius morphology

High genetic connectivity and Population Expansion of Scomber japonicus in the Northern Humboldt Current System revealed by mitochondrial control region sequences

Alta conectividad genetica y expansion poblacional de Scomber japonicus en en la parte norte del Sistema de Corriente de Humboldt reveladas por secuencias de la region control mitocondrial

Thanks to the so-called Humboldt Current, its skies are almost permanently clear.

Scientists to search space for life with Extremely Large Telescope

Nearby, the Humboldt Current, a cold ocean current, ensures that clouds stay over the Pacific, or on the other side of the Andes, so night skies remain generally clear.

Eyes to the sky: World's largest telescope comes to Chile

Anchovy, cold-water fish used to make fishmeal, thrive in Peru's nutrient-rich Humboldt current and scatter when waters heat up.

Peru on alert for moderate El Nino this yea

When El Nino occurs, there is disruption to the upwelling of cold nutrient-rich water along the Pacific coast of South America called the Humboldt Current. This leads to a reduction in levels of plankton, which is food for many fish species in the region.

Salmon and prawns face El Nino threat

Humboldt penguins, which are classed as vulnerable on the IUCN red data list, originate along the South American coastline in areas reached by the Humboldt current. They are named after German scientist Alexander Von Humboldt who explored the region in the late 1700s.

Big breakfast for Pingu, 23

The presence of the Andes range paired with the cold Humboldt current produces a formidable climate diversity, key for agricultural production.

Sisters bring love of Pisco to Beirut with new Cinco Lounge