CurrentsAreKing
Theislandsareteemingwithlifebecauseofwheretheyformed.Theysitatthecrossroadsofseveralmajoroceancurrents.Theclimatedependsonthesecurrents.Thecurrentsareaffectedbythewindsthatpush them.
Let’sstartwiththeHumboldtcurrent.ItsweepsnorthfromAntarcticaandcarriescold,nutrient‑rich water.
TheHumboldtisadeep‑watercurrent.Withpowerfultradewinds,itcreatesan upwelling.
Atthesurface,windsblowoceanwateraway.Thendeep‑seawaterrisesuptoreplace it.
Whenoceanorganismsdieanddecompose,theysinktothebottomasnutrients.Upwellingbringsupthesenutrients.Theyprovidefoodfortinyliving organisms.
Cromwell current
PeruOceanic current
SouthEquatorial current
Humboldt current
PACIFIC OCEAN
GALÁPAGOS
ISLANDS
ECUADOR
South
America
Panama current
Coldwaterwithmorenutrientsrisesuptoreplacewaterthatispushed away.
Surfacewindspushwaterawayfromthe land.
phytoplankton
UPWELLING
Strongwindsanddeepcurrentscreateupwelling.Theoceanbecomesplentifulwith food.
WhenCurrentsCollide
FromMaythroughDecember,theHumboldtcurrentcollideswiththewarm‑waterPanamacurrent.ThiscurrentflowssouthfromCentralAmerica.Whenthecurrentsmeet,theycreateacoolmist.Cloudsform,andtheislandsseemto disappear.
Meanwhile,theCromwellcurrentmovesinfromthewest.IttravelsthousandsofkilometersfromHawaii.Thiscoldcurrentalsocarriesnutrientstofeedthemarinefood chain.
cactus finch
mistandfogaroundIsabela Island
AndherecomestheSouthEquatorialcurrent.Itflowseasttowest.Thisisawarm‑watersurfacecurrentinthe Pacific.
AroundDecember,thewarmPanamacurrentbecomesforceful.Itcanbringhighhumidityandheavytropicalrains.ThesecanusherinEl Niño!
ThewatersandcurrentsmovingaroundGalápagosIslandssupport life.
DisruptiveForce
TheElNiñocurrentonlyformseveryfewyears.Thiscurrentaffectsweatherpatterns.Itcanbringheavyrainandpossibleflooding.ElNiñocanlastformonthsata time.
ElNiñocanbenefittheplantlifeontheislandsbybringingrain.Thisleadstoapopulationboomforanimalsthateat them.
DuringaharshElNiño,theHumboldtcurrentiscutoff.Upwellingcannothappen.Thatmeansthereisn’tenoughfoodforseaanimals.Many die.
TheGalápagosisaplacewherenaturefightstostayinbalance.Itwasbornoffire.Itisfueledbywindandwater.Itisfullof life.