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The '''North Atlantic Current''' ('''NAC'''), also known as '''North Atlantic Drift''' and '''North Atlantic Sea Movement''', is a powerful warm [[western boundary current]] within the [[Atlantic Ocean]] that extends the [[Gulf Stream]] northeastward.<ref name="Rossby-Abst">{{Harvnb|Rossby|1996|loc=Abstract}}</ref>
The NAC originates from where the Gulf Stream turns north at the Southeast Newfoundland Rise, a submarine ridge that stretches southeast from the [[Grand Banks of Newfoundland
The colder parts of the Gulf Stream turn northward near the "tail" of the Grand Banks at 50°W where the [[Azores Current]] branches off to flow south of the [[Azores]]. From there the NAC flows northeastward, east of the [[Flemish Cap]] (47°N, 45°W). Approaching the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, it then turns eastward and becomes much broader and more diffuse. It then splits into a colder northeastern branch and a warmer eastern branch. As the warmer branch turns southward, most of the subtropical component of the Gulf Stream is 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 45°N.<ref>{{Harvnb|Lozier|Owens|Curry|1995|loc=Circulation: Figs 10 and 11, pp. 20–22}}</ref>
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