the current in the northwestern part of the north atlantic subtropical
North Atlantic Current The colder parts of the Gulf Stream turn northward near the "tail" of the Grand Banks at 50째W where the Azores Current branches off to flow south of the Azores. From there the NAC flows north-eastward east of the Flemish Cap (47째N, 45째W). Approaching the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, it then turns eastward and becomes much broader and more diffuse. It then splits into a colder, north-eastern branch and a warmer eastern branch. As the warmer branch turns southward most of the subtropical component of the Gulf Stream has been diverted southward and, as a consequence, the North Atlantic is mostly supplied by subpolar waters, including a contribution from the Labrador Current recirculated into the NAC at 45째N.[2]