What types of currents affect British Columbia?
BC is not directly affected by the deep ocean currents, but these currents are important regulators of the global climate. Cold water from polar regions is circulated to warmer latitudes, and warm water is brought to the poles. This natural heating/cooling system helps to absorb changes in air temperature. The North Pacific surface current flows with prevailing westerly winds and encounters North America near southern British Columbia. The land mass causes the current to split into the Alaska current, which flows northward along the BC coast, and the California current, which travels south. The North Pacific current is relatively warm, and brings mild, moist weather to the coast of BC.