Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The California Current transports cold, nutrient‑rich water from the Gulf of Alaska southward along the coast. This cools the overlying air, giving California a cooler overall climate than other regions at similar latitudes. It also creates a persistent marine layer of fog along the coastline, further moderating temperatures.
Additionally, the current upwells nutrients that support a rich marine ecosystem, providing food for wildlife and fisheries, and helps regulate global climate by absorbing atmospheric CO₂. Changes in the current’s strength or temperature could significantly alter California’s climate and coastal ecology.